Manipulating the Libra

In DeLillo's Libra, the assassination of John F. Kennedy is the single instance in time that we can't dispute. We might not know exactly what events led up to this event, but all the threads of these fictional narratives and conspiracy theories go through this point. The only character that the public sees is Oswald and the only event they witness is this assassination and in this way, these plot lines seem to be the only real parts of history we know.

While Oswald is in the spotlight, Raymo and the rest are working from the shadows. They're completely invisible to the public eye and history, yet they're the ones pulling all the strings and manipulating Oswald, acting as the puppet masters of this entire operation. This organization is able to manipulate Oswald by taking advantage of his need to be a part of history. This desire goes back to the beginning stages of his life ("26 April" - "In Atsugi") where he enjoys disobeying authority, getting into fights, and becoming a misplaced martyr. As long as he knew the truth and everyone else was in the dark, he was satisfied. After he shoots Kennedy, he becomes what he desired. He is that misplaced martyr that knows that truth, something no one else can know. He has made an impact on history and now has his desired notoriety.

Ferrie and others use his motivations against him, continually playing with Oswald's mind by pretending to know so much about him and by talking about his astrological sign: Libra. As Ferrie states in the novel, Libra symbolizes a scale, eager to tip one way or the other. Ferrie uses this idea of a scale to suggest to Oswald that his destiny is to assassinate Kennedy. Naturally, Oswald seems to be rather dumbfounded by these mystical notions and by using his own mentality against him, Ferrie and the others manipulate him to become the face of their organization, a scapegoat and a martyr to pay for all their crimes. Oswald intuitively fits into this role. Even before he is convinced to take shots at Kennedy, he already occupies the fictional role that they have created for him. It's kind of scary and unnerving that he was already in a role that they hadn't even created for him yet, but it goes along with this mystical and fictional aspect to the story, further convincing the reader of this plot.

This manipulation is reminiscent of previous chapters where he had spent his time under the authority of the Soviet government. At this time in his life, Oswald was extremely malleable and vulnerable, just having moved from America. While striving to be a part of the communist society, the Soviet government uses his interest against him and starts to take advantage of his specific knowledge. Naturally, these actions annoy Oswald and he eventually moves back to America. His choices to go to a communist nation, provide intelligence, and then return to the US set him up as a threat to the US and an ideal candidate for the assassination of Kennedy. In this way, he is continually groomed by coincidences to play the face of this assassination. 

DeLillo crafts a fictional narrative interspersed with objective fact to indicate that Oswald took on a created role he didn't prepare for and that all of his actions coincidentally aligned with a plot unrelated to him. Although conspiracy theories are built on coincidences, we instinctively assume that this plot isn't plausible. If the plot was actually real history and Oswald was still alive, I'd assume (knowing his background and personality) he'd be content with his infamy and the sole truth that he knows.