Tom Robbins (2003)
Genre
Fantasy
Reading Time
250 min
Key Themes
See below
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Three soldiers choose to stay lost, and four generations of women are linked to a mythical Japanese figure, in a story of identity and illusion that questions reality itself.
The story begins by introducing three American MIAs from the Vietnam War—Leigh Cheri, Billy Wild, and Hank Thompson—who have chosen to remain hidden in the jungles of Laos. They have found freedom and purpose outside of society, living independently, occasionally interacting with villagers, and avoiding detection. At the same time, the narrative introduces a family of women: Ruby P. Jewel, her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. They all look alike and share a mysterious connection to a mythical Japanese forest spirit, a tengu named Marquis de Sade. This tengu is mischievous, lustful, and often kind, having influenced their lives subtly for generations, making them question their identities and reality.
Ruby P. Jewel, the family leader and a former circus trapeze artist, is beautiful and charming. Her circus life, especially her daring acts high above the crowd, shows her free spirit and separation from ordinary life. It is during her time with the circus that her connection to the tengu, Marquis de Sade, becomes clearer. He is drawn to her energy and independence, often appearing in her dreams and affecting her choices. Ruby's experiences in the circus, surrounded by other unusual people, establish the novel's theme of embracing the extraordinary and questioning social rules. Her story sets the stage for the tengu's generational impact on her descendants.
Marquis de Sade, the cunning and amorous tengu, is not a passive observer. He actively, though sometimes subtly, intervenes in the Jewel women's lives. His interventions often appear as mysterious events, strange coincidences, or direct, but often disguised, appearances. He particularly likes Ruby P. Jewel, finding her spirit appealing. His presence introduces magic realism, blurring the lines between myth and reality. The tengu's actions come from curiosity, lust, and a desire to challenge human perceptions, often leading to funny or thought-provoking situations that move the plot and deepen the mystery of the family's lineage and their unique gifts.
As generations pass, the Jewel women become more aware of the unusual events in their lives and the shared physical traits that connect them. They sense a deeper, almost mystical connection that sets them apart. This growing awareness prompts a collective, though often individual, search for understanding. They look into family history, folklore, and their own intuition to uncover the truth behind their lineage and the tengu's persistent presence. This search for answers becomes a central force, pushing them to question normal explanations and accept the fantastical elements of their lives. Their journey highlights themes of identity, destiny, and the power of inherited myth.
While the Jewel women explore their mystical heritage, the three MIAs—Leigh Cheri, Billy Wild, and Hank Thompson—continue their secluded lives in Laos. Their existence has challenges. They deal with the moral implications of choosing to remain 'missing' and the longing for connections they have cut off. External pressures begin as rumors of their survival reach the outside world, especially a determined American intelligence agent named Jake. The MIAs must stay alert, maintaining their act to avoid discovery and the potential disruption of their freedom. This part of the story explores freedom, responsibility, and patriotism in a post-war context.
Jake, an American intelligence agent, becomes more involved in finding the MIAs. Unlike other agents, Jake is not just driven by duty; he has a deeper, philosophical curiosity about why these men would choose to stay missing. His investigation takes him through international espionage and into Laos. He meticulously gathers clues, following the faint trail left by Leigh, Billy, and Hank. Jake's pursuit is a mix of professional determination and a personal quest for understanding, making him a complex character who bridges the conventional world and the MIAs' unconventional lives. His presence adds suspense and external conflict to the story.
As the novel continues, the seemingly separate worlds of the Jewel women and the MIAs begin to subtly meet. The tengu, Marquis de Sade, with his ability to cross boundaries and his love for mischief, helps these connections happen. Hints appear that these characters' paths are meant to cross, perhaps through shared experiences of freedom, illusion, and the search for true identity. The story skillfully combines myth, war, and personal quests, suggesting a larger web of connections. This meeting creates anticipation and shows the underlying unity of the novel's different plotlines, hinting at a grander plan.
A key revelation happens when it is hinted, and later confirmed, that Leigh Cheri, the most philosophical of the MIAs, has a direct, personal connection to the tengu and, by extension, to the Jewel family. This connection is not just a coincidence but is deeply rooted in the story's mystical fabric. Leigh's experiences in Laos, his choice of an unconventional life, and his philosophical thoughts reflect the themes explored through the Jewel women. This intertwining of his fate with theirs suggests a deeper, almost fated, interaction between the two main story threads, blurring identity and lineage and offering a twist to the plot.
A central theme throughout the novel is the idea of masquerade, both as a literal act and as a concept. The MIAs wear the 'mask' of being missing, while the Jewel women navigate the 'mask' of their unusual heritage. The tengu, Marquis de Sade, is a master of disguise and illusion, constantly challenging perceptions. As the characters' worlds collide, they must face the difference between their perceived identities and their true selves. This questioning of reality and the masks people wear becomes a strong force, leading to self-discovery and the dismantling of preconceived ideas about who they are and what is real.
The story builds to a series of confrontations where the characters' paths finally meet. Jake's pursuit of the MIAs intensifies, leading to a direct encounter. The Jewel women, having understood more of their mystical lineage, come closer to understanding their connection to Leigh Cheri and the tengu. These confrontations are not always violent; often, they are philosophical and emotional, forcing characters to make choices about their futures and come to terms with their pasts. The resolutions involve redefining freedom, identity, and accepting the extraordinary, bringing a satisfying, if unusual, end to the intertwined stories.
The Protagonist
Leigh moves from simply existing in hiding to understanding his deeper, mystical connection to the world and accepting a unique aspect of his identity.
The Supporting
Ruby's arc is largely established in the past, showing her embrace of freedom and her initial, subconscious connection to the mystical.
The Antagonist/Supporting/Mythical Figure
The tengu remains largely consistent in his nature, serving as a catalyst for the human characters' development and the unfolding of the mystical plot.
The Supporting
Billy maintains his adventurous spirit, finding satisfaction in his chosen unconventional life, with little dramatic internal change.
The Supporting
Hank continues to be the grounding force for the group, accepting his chosen life with pragmatic resolve.
The Supporting
Jake's arc involves moving from a purely investigative role to a deeper understanding of the MIAs' choices and the nature of freedom, though he remains bound by his conventional role.
The Supporting
Collectively, they move from a vague awareness of their unique heritage to a more conscious understanding and acceptance of their connection to the tengu.
The novel constantly treats identity as a fluid concept, often a performance or an illusion. The MIAs choose to abandon their old identities, taking on new ones in Laos, while the Jewel women's identities are shaped by their mystical lineage and the tengu's influence, who is himself a master of disguise. The line between who characters truly are and who they appear to be is blurred, making readers question authenticity. This is clear in Leigh Cheri's thoughts on the 'false mustache of the world' and the elaborate act maintained by the MIAs.
“What is real? What is not real? That is the only question.”
A core tension in the novel is the conflict between absolute personal freedom and the responsibilities that come with it, or with societal expectations. The MIAs explicitly choose radical freedom by leaving their past lives and duties, finding liberation in their 'missing' status. However, this freedom brings challenges, including isolation and the constant threat of discovery. The Jewel women also represent a certain freedom through their unconventional lives and their connection to a wild, untamed spirit. The book explores the appeal of breaking free from constraints but also the costs and complexities of such choices.
“Freedom, like anything else, is a habit. It can be acquired and it can be lost.”
Tom Robbins skillfully blurs the lines between myth and reality, suggesting that folklore's fantastical elements are not separate from the modern world but deeply interwoven within it. The presence of Marquis de Sade, a Japanese tengu, is not treated as mere fantasy but as an active, living force that shapes the Jewel family's lives and the broader story. This theme encourages readers to embrace a broader view of reality, where ancient myths are still relevant and the extraordinary can appear in everyday life. The tengu's interventions are consistently shown as both magical and strangely logical within the novel's world.
“Myth is the secret history of the world.”
Desire, both physical and existential, is a significant driving force throughout the novel. Marquis de Sade's lust for the Jewel women is a central element, but it is tied to a deeper desire for connection and influence. The MIAs' desire for a different life, and Jake's desire for understanding, propel their journeys. Beyond individual desires, the novel explores the profound and often unexplainable connections between people, generations, and even between human and mythical realms. These connections, whether physical, emotional, or mystical, shape destinies and reveal how all things are connected.
“What is life but a series of passionate connections?”
The story unfolds through two seemingly disparate but ultimately connected plotlines.
The novel employs a dual narrative structure, alternating between the lives of the American MIAs in Laos and the generational saga of the Jewel women and their connection to the tengu. Initially, these storylines appear unrelated, creating a sense of mystery and anticipation. As the novel progresses, subtle connections emerge, building towards a powerful convergence where the two narratives intertwine, enriching the themes of identity, freedom, and the blurring of reality. This structure allows Robbins to explore diverse settings and character types while ultimately revealing a unified, complex vision.
Supernatural elements are seamlessly integrated into an otherwise realistic setting.
Magical realism is a pervasive plot device, with the mythical tengu, Marquis de Sade, existing and interacting with human characters as a natural, albeit extraordinary, part of their world. His appearances, his influence on the Jewel family, and his ability to manipulate events are presented without extensive explanation or disbelief from the characters. This device allows Robbins to explore profound philosophical questions and themes of identity and reality through a fantastical lens, making the extraordinary seem ordinary and challenging the reader's preconceived notions of what is possible within the narrative's universe.
An object or goal that drives the plot, particularly for Jake, but is secondary to character development.
The precise location and status of the American MIAs—Leigh Cheri, Billy Wild, and Hank Thompson—serve as a MacGuffin, particularly for the character of Jake. While Jake's quest to find them is a primary driver of one narrative thread, the true significance lies not just in their physical discovery but in what their choice to remain missing represents: themes of freedom, identity, and the rejection of societal norms. The MacGuffin propels the external plot forward, allowing for the exploration of deeper philosophical and character-driven concerns.
The influence of past generations profoundly shapes the present and future characters.
The concept of an intergenerational legacy is central, particularly within the Jewel family. Ruby P. Jewel's initial connection to the tengu and her free-spirited nature establish a pattern that her descendants inherit and continue. The physical resemblance between the women and the enduring, if sometimes subtle, influence of Marquis de Sade across generations highlights how the past shapes the present. This device allows for the exploration of inherited traits, destiny, and the long-lasting impact of ancestral myths and choices on individual lives, creating a rich tapestry of history and fate.
“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who like to be entertained and those who like to be informed. The former are the majority, the latter the minority. The former are often amused, the latter are often astonished.”
— A general observation on human nature and the pursuit of knowledge vs. entertainment.
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
— A philosophical statement on freedom and individuality.
“When we're awake, we see the world as it is. When we dream, we see the world as it could be.”
— Reflecting on the power of dreams and imagination.
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a ride!'”
— A popular quote emphasizing living life to the fullest.
“If you don't like what's on the menu, order something else.”
— A metaphor for taking control of one's choices and circumstances.
“Sanity is a cozy lie.”
— A provocative statement challenging conventional notions of sanity.
“She was a woman who would rather create a storm than endure one.”
— Describing a character's proactive and rebellious nature.
“The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with human ambition.”
— A humbling reminder of humanity's place in the grand scheme of things.
“There is no such thing as an ordinary moment.”
— Encouraging appreciation for every moment of existence.
“The past is a ghost, the future a dream, and all we ever have is now.”
— A timeless statement on the importance of living in the present.
“Meaning is not something you discover, it's something you create.”
— A philosophical take on the construction of personal meaning.
“He was a man who preferred the company of women because they were more likely to offer him a fresh perspective on the cosmic joke.”
— Highlighting a character's preference and a unique view on life's absurdities.
“To be truly alive is to feel the full spectrum of emotions, even the uncomfortable ones.”
— Emphasizing the richness of human experience through emotional range.
“We are all bozos on this bus, so we might as well enjoy the ride.”
— A humorous and unifying statement about the human condition.
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