Seth Gilbert
Period 2
“A Visit from the Goon Squad” is structured in a way that constantly gives the reader new insights into its various characters. The trajectory of Lou’s character is one that is thoroughly covered and by the end of the novel the reader has a good idea of the motivations behind the man. While some characters appear only in short clips, the book tracks Lou from middle age to his death twenty years later. He is a man who needs to feel dominant and who needs to “win.” In his case, his need to win drives him to marry Mindy (even though it is questionable whether or not he really loves her), and drives apart his relationship with his favorite son, Rolph. He felt a deep connection with Rolph and was soothed by “his bright blue eyes and quiet spirit”, but Lou betrayed that connection later on in life. Lou’s loneliness despite the myriad of women and children he shared his life with shows that he latched on to the empty things instead of what was really important in life. Like Bosco, he attempts to return to his younger bliss at his death by reuniting with Jocelyn and Rhea, but unlike Bosco, he fades slowly away. Lou is a strong character whose force got him nowhere in life; and in chasing the unimportant, he slowly drains and is left with nothing but memories of his youth. This is why time has such a devastating effect on Lou’s life, and most likely why the author devoted so much text to this fascinating character.
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