of the text. Questioning him too much makes the plot even more complicated—the events are surreal enough without wondering whether the narrator is being honest.

At the same time, as the modern reader continues through the text with their own sensibilities, the horrors of the story become apparent. The narrator talks about horrific events in a neutral tone, not acknowledging the dark side of iDEATH. When Margaret, his girlfriend, commits suicide, he doesn’t seem to have an emotional reaction. This may be a key sign of his personality and, therefore, his unreliability. His lack of a reaction might point to deeper emotional issues. He also writes about his parents’ death in an unemotional tone, not acknowledging any reaction on his part.

However, Brautigan’s surrealist style has to be considered when thinking about the reliability of the narrator. The world of iDEATH is full of magical realism—talking tigers and fantastical materials (including watermelon sugar itself) that are never explained. The postmodern, playful nature of the work tells the reader they should just go along with whatever ridiculous plot twists occur. In the end, the reader can rely on the narrator’s story but must also make their own conclusions about the deeper significance of the events he talks about. A postmodern story often experiments with deeper symbolism, and it is up to the reader to decide on their own takeaway.