Hitler

     Adolf Hitler and the German persona are vital components to understanding the psyche of Jack Gladney. Jack's fundamental personality trait is an overwhelming fear of death. Until he is informed by SIMUVAC that he will die from Nyodene Derivative poisoning, Jack does not recognize his own mortality whatsoever.  He shields himself from death with his position as the head of Hitler Studies at the College-on-the-Hill.

     Murray's character is often philosophical. When he makes an observation, it is clear that DeLillo is speaking through the character. He observes that Jack may have a fascination with Hitler because he is "larger than death." The name Adolf Hitler is intimately connected with millions of deaths. The atrocities he committed and the lives he ended greatly outshadow his own single death. In this way, his reputation (though it is an infamous one) remained intact after his death and he has achieved immortality, in a sense. 

     Jack associates German culture as a whole with strength and immortality. He states that he named his son Heinrich because it was a "strong" name. By associating himself with the German language, he believes he will gain strength himself. However, he is unable to fulfill this desire because he only artificially connects himself to Germany. He pretends to study Hitler but is more interested in his persona than in factual details. He takes a few German language lessons but has no interest in really learning the language. Jack is unable to fulfill his need to feel "larger than death" because he is unable to achieve anything but surface-level association to the concept he believes will save him.

     Jack also strives to overthrow his crippling fear of death by murdering Willie Mink and stealing Dylar. Jack has begun to feel like his life was insignificant. He felt lifeless and spiritually dead while remaining physically alive. He took off on a reckless journey to (the conveniently named) Germantown. While he was normally very cautious, he drove unsafely. DeLillo states that Jack felt more alive than he ever had before. When he arrives, Willie has mentally collapsed due to the technological influences in his life. Jack shoots Willie twice before being shot in the wrist once. Jack relishes the pain and his feeling of proximity to death reengages his sympathy. He takes Willie to a hospital run by German nuns. In this sequence, the presence of a city named Germantown and German nuns connect the scene to Jack's feeling of immortality and strength. He gains confidence from the idea of killing another person, as if to balance out his own individual death. He says that the nurses' words are beautiful even though he can't understand them. 

     Jack, rather than coming to terms with his death through his experience, continues to rely on Hitler and artificiality. He, like the elderly of the town who are agitated when the grocery store moves its items, can't handle change of any time. The elderly are the closest to death so they most vehemently resist change of any time. Jack strives for success to overcome death and eventually becomes more comfortable with the concept. However, he continues to be terrified by the sunset, just as he is terrified of his impending death.