Character Analysis of David Bell in Don DeLillo´s Americana

Throughout the novel, Americana, Don DeLillo develops the character of David Bell as a man who has both a very high opinion of himself and also low self-esteem. David narrates the story and will often describe his above-average attractiveness or his importance in the lives of others; while other times David needs gratification from others to prove his self-worth. As the story develops, we learn that much of this contradiction stems from David’s relationship with his father. A recurring theme in the character of David Bell is his inflated opinion of himself. Chapter Two begins with David stating, â€Å"I was an extremely handsome young man† (DeLillo 2.11). David continues to describe his appearance in an almost scientific manner that would appear to be simply a factual statement. When David equates his relationship with his mirror as therapeutic, however, we see how much he stakes his opinion of himself on the way he looks. â€Å"I was blue-eyed David Bell. Obviously my life depended on this fact† (DeLillo 2.11). David also sees himself as having a great deal of influence on others and prides himself on that fact. When David was walking along the street with a coworker, a girl mistook him for a celebrity and David found it amusing to play along. David’s narration describes that the coworker was not amused by this joke and â€Å"avoided [David] for the next six months† (DeLillo 2.14). Once David sees the influence his appearance and pride could have on one coworker, he believes that he