There is the rule in I Ching that used as
an organizational device in the structure of High Castle.
In other words, the rule found in I Ching
is also important techniques of Dick’s writing such as High Castle. That rule
is about the junctures in the novel which control the characters action in
story such as what and how they behave and what result comes out from their
action. Dick consult about his novel by I Ching and finally regard it as the
device in structure of high Castle which the critical juncture may appear to
uninitiated readers as a little more than prominent and picturesque subtext
(Mountfort, 2006). Moreover, the critical juncture formed as ten oracle
consultations that the result comes out after the character ask oracular
question. These constitution and function as his Meta narrative may prove the
enigmatic in the storyline hence these are the organizational device for
construction. Furthermore, that device illuminates the hidden fate-lines of
characters. For example, the oracle consults to one of the main character Frank
Frink is about his ex –wife Juliana Frank results to the chapter which warns
“The maiden is powerful. One should not marry such a maiden” so he receive a
sign before he met with her. There are several more oracles that suggest the
relationships or futures of characters results later which means the oracles
are the turning points of characters in story. In conclusion, his use of
organization device make story easier and attractive.
references
Brown, E. (2001). Introduction. In Dick,
P.K.,
The Man in the High Castle (p.v-xii).
London: Penguin.
Mountfort, P. (2006). Oracle-text/Cybertext
in Philip K. Dick’s The Man inthe High Castle.
Conferencepaper, Popular Culture Association/
American Culture Association annualjoint conference,
Atlanta, 2006.
Hi, it looks like you have a good understanding of I Ching device. Such terms like 'I Ching','Tao' and 'Oracle' got me really confused while doing some secondary-text reading and it was hard to gain little knowledge of them. I think it's a great device as it functions significantly by illuminating those main characters. The two main characters Juliana and Nobuske both consult the I Ching. And I think the use of I Ching and stuffs, by the maverick novelist Dick, who also had a thorough basic knowledge of philosophy and religion, are what make the novel very unique.
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