Explication

So..to start, I thought I had posted this. But as I retype this, I know that it somehow did not get published. So this is my best attempt at recreating what I originally had typed for my Explication:

First off, Jpod is one of the most diverse books I have ever read. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but will all its strange events, I had troubles focusing on one. Perhaps Revolt, for the programmers within Jpod are set on putting an evil Ronald McDonald character in their newest production manager's game for ruining their own game. Or perhaps Abduction, as Steve is taken to China to work in a Nike Knock-off factory, and Ethan is sent to save him. This could also be Recovery. In reality, I could go on and on, naming off countless events that happen within the book. However, I have narrowed down Ethan's conflict to be the Dramatic Situation which happens throughout the entire book.

An Unfortunate, I see as Ethan. He is seen as stuck in this world he lives in with an almost dysfunctional family and out-of-the-ordinary co-workers. We see him constantly striving for some normality, but whether it be helping his mother with her grow-op or his father with an obsessed hooker or retrieve his (now drug addicted) boss from China, he seems to always be in the middle of the Drama. The way his character is written makes sense, but Coupland makes it awkwardly obvious that this character has problems.

A Threatener, in my opinion can be one of two things. As described before, Ethan's life is complex and almost everything and everyone can be described as the "threatener" to Ethan's normal life. However, Ethan can also be the threatener. He is always stopping himself from truly fitting in 100%. He tries, he participates, but he is constantly questing why his life can't just be normal or comparing instances from his childhood that could of played out differently. Its great that one individual can strive for something in such a manner, but he needs to learn to give in. I can just sort of imagine all the other characters in hoods, whispering "join us Ethan..join the dark side".

And so when Ethan finally does join the "dark side", he is rescued by none other than the author, Douglas Coupland. At the end of the book, he is in a hole after digging out a body he had buried months before with his mother. This is the point where he accepts his world, but finally takes his first step into it when Coupland offers him a job on Dglobe. From this, he feels accepted and (from what I can tell) feels as if his life will be a bit more normal.