Underworld Summary & Key Insights

Don DeLillo's sprawling novel, Underworld, unfolds across decades of post-World War II American history, weaving together seemingly disparate events and characters to explore themes of history, memory, waste, and the elusive nature of meaning. The narrative revolves around the 1951 New York Giants-Brooklyn Dodgers game, a seemingly inconsequential event that becomes a symbolic touchstone, framing the wider historical context and the lives of its characters.

A crucial element is the "shot heard round the world," the home run hit by Bobby Thomson, which becomes a defining moment for many characters, though its importance is largely subjective and dependent on their individual experiences and perspectives. The novel follows the life of Nick Shay, a garbage collector whose actions are indirectly entwined with the baseball game, as well as the fates of several other individuals linked by chance, conspiracy, and the lingering effects of the Cold War.

Among the notable characters are Klara Sax, a communist sympathizer whose family is affected by McCarthyism; Cotter Martin, a once-prominent public figure drawn into clandestine activities; and J. Edgar Hoover, whose pervasive influence is felt throughout the novel. Each character embodies different aspects of American society in the latter half of the 20th century, highlighting the anxieties and complexities of the era.

DeLillo employs a non-linear narrative structure, juxtaposing personal stories with major historical events, such as the Cold War, the space race, and the rise of consumerism. The novel often shifts between the perspectives of different characters and time periods, creating a fragmented yet interconnected narrative.

The concept of waste, both literal and metaphorical, is central to the novel's theme. Nick Shay's profession as a garbage collector directly reflects this, highlighting the discarded remnants of American culture and the inherent transience of existence. The novel's extensive imagery of garbage and landfills becomes symbolic of the accumulation of history, forgotten events, and the byproducts of societal progress. The Cold War's nuclear threat, represented by discarded missiles and the potential for annihilation, also feeds into this theme of waste and the looming threat of obliteration.

Ultimately, Underworld questions the significance of historical events and the nature of memory. It challenges the notion of a coherent, linear narrative of history, instead presenting a fragmented and complex picture of the past. The novel suggests that the past is not a fixed entity but a malleable construct, shaped by individual perceptions and the ever-shifting sands of time. By connecting seemingly unrelated events and characters, DeLillo illustrates the interconnectedness of human lives and the hidden patterns within the seemingly random events of history, leaving the reader to contemplate the elusive search for meaning in a seemingly chaotic world.