New Orleans
Something that I think was a really interesting piece of symbolism and foreshadowing was the chapter In New Orleans, a chapter that fundamentally sets a pretext for the entire novel in a way that I didn't quite appreciate until looking back at it. A little sample of the story is laid out, to the point where I wonder if it was not fictionalized for the express purpose. Three major events stood out to me. The first laying out of his plans occur with "He would find a communist cell and become a member. He would find a cell, be given tasks to prove himself." This is the first reflection of his desire to find the storied land, and his consequent defection, and upon dissatisfaction with his ability to prove himself and rise in the ranks, reach fame and influence, his attempts to defect to Cuba. The book also makes explicit another part of his quest, another stage in this journey, with the constant references to the Marine Corps manual. This initially stood out to me as somew...