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Layer 03: Psyche

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Pay attention to important plot points in this episode. A plot point is a moment of change or an event that moves the plot forward.

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Topics/Themes:

Change—

What are some important moments of change for Lain? What precipitates or brings about these changes? What are their effects? That is to say, in what state was she at the beginning of this episode and in what state is she by the end? What can you tell about Lain’s apparent alter ego? What clues do you have? Look for visual as well as verbal cues.

Psyche--

What is a psyche? What significance might there be to calling a computer processor “Psyche”?

Isolation--

What is significant about the fact that Lain’s parents are not at home when the policeman calls or later when she is taken home? How is it that her mother is there when she comes downstairs for breakfast?

Lain in relation to other characters—

What can we learn about Lain and her world by the way other characters react to her and by what they tell her? What is significant about her father’s reaction to her question about the Psyche processor? What do we learn from her interaction with the kids at Cyberia? What is important about the way Lain is dressed at the end of this episode? What can you tell from her sister’s reaction?