Subject: Cooper's Autobiography
From: alternat@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Ann Hodgins)
Date: 1991-06-02, 11:31
Newsgroups: alt.tv.twin-peaks

I am holding in my hands a copy of "The Autobiography of FBI Special
Agent Dale Cooper - My Life, My Tapes.
 
First of all, let me say that this book paints a more complete picture of 
our Dale, particularily the string of misfortunes leading to his current
state as a man whose dreams of romance have not come true.
Maybe it is a case of "opposites attract" or maybe it just worked out that 
way, but the significant women in Dale's life (not counting his mother)
have all been looney tunes. His women all seem to be irrational, drug -
addicted and promiscuous. Maybe that is why he is on a rescue mission to
protect young women like Laura Palmer. Dale is determined to battle the
evil head-on that his haunted his life and taken away everyone he loved.
 
At first I found Cooper's straight-arrow attitude and guiless trust in
authority quite irritating but the book helps to show this qualities in
a kinder light.  Cooper's innocence is more endearing in a boy or a young
man than it is now in the adult Cooper, an authority figure in his own
right.  This logical, law-abiding Cooper is also more likeable when shown
blundering through his first attempts at law enforcement and also when his
non-ration side is revealed through his hobbies and his dreams. 
During sleep or when affected by sleep-deprivation or drugs, Dale shows
ability as a medium.  Under the right circumstances another personality 
could definititely take hold of our Dale.
 
Something has been stalking Dale for a long time.
Strange people appear in his dreams and violence finds him in the streets.
He is obsessed with the battle between good and evil and, like
Jesus, seems to be precociously gifted as though born for some purpose.
Just as Jesus amazed the church elders with his wisdom when he was only
twelve years old, Dale Cooper continually demonstrates abilities that seem
unaccountable in one so young and untrained.  
 
We learn that he is interested in psychology, particularily the madnessess
of everyday life, that he sleepwalks, that he has exceptional visualisation
abilities, as an excellent marksman, sees a blue man in his dreams, has
become the agent specializing in serial murders, was involved in a serial
murder case that featured victims whose hands were cut off, feels that his
own hands shake when evil is near, associates evil with the colour blue and
also with fire and laughter.
 
Because I favour the hypothesis that Twin Peaks is only a dream of some 
kind I looked for evidence in the book. If Cooper is dreaming, for instance,
then his dream would feature many of the elements of his real life,
remixed and reworked in the dream. I found that to be the case. For instance,
in high school, Cooper fell in love with a beautiful blonde named
Anne who had a scar on her hand and who became a lesbian. Later, in
Twin Peaks,  Coop falls in love with a blonde named Anne with a scar on
her wrist who has spent a lot of time with women recently. Co-incidence?   
probably.  :-)
 
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Ann Hodgins                     E Uassiuian is the will to continue
alternat@watdcs.uwaterloo.ca    To laugh, to have fun and to be amazed.