Why is Lee so easily manipulatable?
As one of the most infamous names in American history, Lee Harvey Oswald is portrayed as a surprisingly manipulatable character in DeLillo's Libra. But why is that the case? While the larger historical question has been long debated (did Lee act alone?), within DeLillo's fictional novel, this manipulation can be attributed to Lee's superiority complex and desire for "main character" validation. One prominent example of this manipulation is George De Mohrenschildt's interactions with Oswald. At first, De Mohrenschildt takes a superficial interest into Oswald's manuscript to gain his trust. Then, on the second meeting, De Mohrenschildt builds off this false trust to plant an assassination idea into Lee's head. "'I'm not disappointed, Lee. This is solid work, the main essay in particular... You'll be nearby, for easy visits... [my house] is less than two miles from the house of General Walker.' George stuck out his index finger and ra...