David Ferrie, a Quick Analysis of a Manipulator and Groomer:

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In Libra, David Ferrie is....quite the interesting character. He's hired onto the assassination plot by Win Everett and T-Jay Mackey as the guy who will slowly and subliminally coax Lee Harvey Oswald into entering the plan to stage an assassination on John F. Kennedy. I forget the page where, but he's described in the book as someone that can really get into someone's head and brainwash them. The primary way in which he much achieve this, of course, includes many elements of emotional manipulation, and grooming.  The points and examples that were made during in-class discussion were pretty thought-provoking, so I'll be recalling and expanding on my thoughts and notes I took from that discussion.

The first thing that groomers and common manipulators tend to do is establish a friendly relationship with their victims to pose as people that they can trust, confide in, and open up to. From there, that acts as an easier gateway to controlling them emotionally in order to achieve their goals. Take note of the amount of time Ferrie happens to spend with Lee, going out to dinner, going hunting, paying visits etc. Then, the most obvious example of this faux-friendliness in Ferrie's case is using the nickname "Leon," as opposed to just Lee. It's a name that nobody else uses to refer to Oswald, so by using it, Ferrie implies a deeper, more personal connection. Another point that was brought up is that Ferrie is an older male "mentor" figure for Oswald, which is significant because he grew up with only his mother and didn't have a father-ish figure in his life at the time, so Oswald would subconsciously feel more of a connection with him in some right.

Next up on page 315 we have the scene of Ferrie and Oswald at the Habana Bar, joined by Clay Shaw. Ferrie intentionally makes a comment pertaining to Lee being a Libra: "We have the positive Libran who has achieved self. He is well-balanced, levelheaded, a sensible fellow respected by all. We have the negative Libran who is, let's say, somewhat unsteady and impulsive. Easily, easily, easily influenced. Poised to make the dangerous leap."

And Lee, in response just smiles without really understanding the context or nuance. Ferrie is also the only man that is aware of the fact that Lee tried to assassinate General Walker, and he digs into Lee's mind about it as well. Both of these examples are showing yet another common grooming/manipulation tactic that Ferrie does. He's psychologically cornering and isolating Lee, by essentially saying "Nobody understands you the way that I understand you," where he's crafting and subliminally imposing a persona which implies that the way that the stars were aligned assures that because Lee is so careless and has no definite aim or goal in his life--just take a look back at his whole entire journey--, then he will fall to anyone at the hands of deception. And if it were to be anyone, then it would be none other than Ferrie. The seeds are already planted and starting to sprout. The scales are starting to tip

Then we get to Ferrie's really nasty side, the one that he hides from the public, behind his goofy eyebrows and his gentle guidance. Of course, the example that comes to mind is the beginning of 25 September when Lee is sexually assaulted on the sofa by Ferrie in the middle of the night. S.A, S.H, and R*pe are all about having control and power over the victim. It does numbers on people not only physically, but it affects the psyche and one's mental health. A victim's sense of safety is completely shattered, and they exposed, and way more vulnerable. This stage of grooming or manipulation generally comes later on, after  establishing first contact, fostering and growing the connection.  It should also be noted the usage of hashish (a psychedelic drug) evokes how manipulators might pressure their victims into substance abuse as yet another means of control and making them more dependent on the abuser.

Finally, in our most recent reading as of typing this, with In Dallas (like, the 2nd one at this point), Oswald encounters Ferrie, and they go on a car-ride to discuss the motorcade. Like most manipulators, their emotions can easily flip like a lightswitch, and Ferrie gets very angry and frustrated, harshly pressuring Lee when he was once soothing and gentle. Now he's straight up giving Lee a big ultimatum of what to do, pretty much replacing Lee's own thoughts, since all Lee seems to be trying to focus on are the directions and not being late. Then Ferrie also employs emotional manipulation via gaslighting, by denying Lee when he said he hasn't seen the news: "Of course you saw it" he says. The psychological manipulation persists further when he reiterates his implications that its Oswlad's destiny and, yet again, there are NO coincidences, tying back to what he sai. The universe has destined this fate for him and gives Lee purpose. He's a Libra after all; someone who's (supposedly) easily influenced. He needs to be swayed into joining this cause, and this divine opportunity is too good to pass up