Hi all. I know many of you may be aware of my theory that Agent Cooper as we know and love him is just one of many personalities of a schizophrenic murderer/rapist named Richard Tremond/Chalfont. I am not trying to shove this down your throats, but I urge you to read this book! It is a quick, easy read that can be accomplished within a few hours. It is free as a .pdf or iBook download if you do a simple internet search (don't pay exorbitant prices for the used paperback). Once you read this, I assure you that you will see "Cooper" differently. Here are some key things I want to point out that are made clear in this book.
- Dale was an odd child that was prone to very strange (sociopathic, if I may) behavior.
- He had dreams as a child of an "evil entity" trying to get into his bedroom (his mother shared these same dreams).
- He was a Peeping Tom; also spied on a girls' sex-ed class in school.
- While he seemed obsessive with his journaling much of the time - days, weeks, months, and even years would pass between certain entries - he would go "MIA" for long periods of time with no explanation whatsoever and certain tapes were erased. What was he doing???
- Dale was unmoved by the death of his grandmother (who died in his house). When his mother asked him to place his hand on her forehead so he wouldn't fear death, his reaction was just that she "felt like an old leather handbag."
- He once killed a bird just because he felt like it. He was unmoved by the experience.
- Many strange deaths occurred around him throughout his life. These include people who have wronged him or rejected him in some way.
- Many fires would randomly "break out" around him, which sometimes resulted in deaths.
- He had an unhealthy preoccupation with sex (in my opinion).
- He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
- He was prone to very melancholy, depressive, anti-"Coop" thoughts and behavior. He often stated that he wanted to disappear to a place where no one knew him.
- When he was on a vacation in the Caribbean, an old man told him he saw death in his face. (This man was found hanged the next day).
Again, I am not trying to hang EVERYTHING I believe on this book. I know we had two seasons of the original Twin Peaks, FWWM, and The Return. But I just can't for the life of me believe that we are expected to just completely discount this book. It was supported by the creators. What were they trying to tell us about our precious Dale Cooper?
I just read the book and thought it was like a great young adult novel, and very funny at times. I thought he was quirky and adorable. Sociopathic tendencies? He has far too much empathy for that. Your judgements about his sexual interests --he's an innocent who is dealing with his hormones and as soon as he's called out on the peeping Tom thing he stops. The interest with sex is normal for a male adolescent and he's clearly attractive to older girls who hit on him. The bird killing is a bit strange bit we know he hated birds because one attacked him and serial killers don't just kill animals, they torture them. There's nothing in the book that suggests Cooper is evil.
I would argue that the only times he demonstrated behaviors of "empathy" were when there was something he wanted from someone that he didn't get/couldn't have. I think there is a huge difference.
Ah the angst and anger of the young male combined with the anomie of modern society. It's amazing any American male would turn out "normal." Look what we are dealing with today with the alt-right crowd's shared sense of fear and hatred; that is the evil emerging in our society.
Cooper is a Saint. I know Frost recently said there is a lot of him in Cooper.
Assuming this book is truly tied into the meaning of Twin Peaks, The degree of realism that you are applying to this book (the normality of the sometimes deviant behavior of adolescence) must be applied throughout the rest of the series. So then I am curious about how you would normalize the nonchalant reactions Dougie Jones receives from everyone around him. His wife, his doctor, colleagues, etc. all think it's somewhat normal or just "Dougie being Dougie." This kind of magical realism isn't consistent with such a realistic account of Dale's life. In other words, it doesn't mesh with the quirkiness that we all know and love about the show. It is interesting they chose to put this information (however slight) into the book, instead of portraying him as flawless who was always heroic and brave, and guided by a high moral compass,as the latter would fit much more with the rest of our story.
I haven't read the book in the last 25 years and don't recall any of it. I was simply providing my own thoughts. Many males deal with angst, anger, sexual curiosity and frustration, etc. If the book indicates that Cooper struggled with these things, then it may simply suggest that he is a human being and not necessarily a serial killing sociopath as Dianna suggests.
Kyle M. said that he played Dougie as though he were a newborn. I have no opinion regarding the nonchalant treatment that he was shown.
Ah the angst and anger of the young male combined with the anomie of modern society. It's amazing any American male would turn out "normal." Look what we are dealing with today with the alt-right crowd's shared sense of fear and hatred; that is the evil emerging in our society.
Cooper is a Saint. I know Frost recently said there is a lot of him in Cooper.
Assuming this book is truly tied into the meaning of Twin Peaks, The degree of realism that you are applying to this book (the normality of the sometimes deviant behavior of adolescence) must be applied throughout the rest of the series. So then I am curious about how you would normalize the nonchalant reactions Dougie Jones receives from everyone around him. His wife, his doctor, colleagues, etc. all think it's somewhat normal or just "Dougie being Dougie." This kind of magical realism isn't consistent with such a realistic account of Dale's life. In other words, it doesn't mesh with the quirkiness that we all know and love about the show. It is interesting they chose to put this information (however slight) into the book, instead of portraying him as flawless who was always heroic and brave, and guided by a high moral compass,as the latter would fit much more with the rest of our story.
It's an interesting, entertaining read. Very, very different the The Secret History. The writer is Scott Frost, who is I would assume a son or other close relative of Mark, and a lot of the book struck me as comical. Teenage Dale was a hoot to me, and the book is full of one-liners caused by the combination of his precocious intellect and teenage naivety. He has a touching relationship with his mother, who is in touch with the "other side" through her dreams and shares his sixth sense, and his father is an interesting character who has a lot of intuition but seems to have a hard time conveying what he knows about life to Dale. Now, as he gets older and especially after he joins the FBI, the book gets much darker for obvious reasons that he is coming into contact with violent crimes, in addition to his own sense of foreboding about evil "out there." The only thing (in my assessment) that might truly support a multiple personality theory or schizophrenic would be the gaps in the recordings, but there are also other possible reasons for gaps (which seem more likely to me). Like Laura Palmer's diary, the early part of this is a teenager's diary and so he's not a completely reliable narrator. The later parts are his recordings to Diane, and it's clear at what point they become this (he asks her if it's ok to address them to her).
Certainly we're all going to have different takes on it--fire away! I could see a much more in-depth analysis of his character through examples from the book that give insight into various facets of the man we see in Twin Peaks. For example, he has a tendency to get depressed for long periods of time after losing people, which seems pretty normal to me although the situations he's involved in are quite bizarre and disturbing.
I read the book very quickly some time ago. The couple of things that caught my eye was one or two references to electricity, and the fact Cooper went to Vegas as a young man and was thrown out of a casino for having a too good blackjack system.
He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
People are keenly avoiding this one; nobody on this forum wants to touch this with a ten foot pole! It hit me like a brick wall in the face when I read this book again after letting it sit on the shelf for years. Felt like I'd found something out that I really didn't want to know.
Yep he's Mark's brother, and wrote two episodes of season two as well as this book.
He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
People are keenly avoiding this one; nobody on this forum wants to touch this with a ten foot pole! It hit me like a brick wall in the face when I read this book again after letting it sit on the shelf for years. Felt like I'd found something out that I really didn't want to know.
I have a problem with this kind of thinking because in real life, it would be victim blaming. This is how the thinking starts for making a scapegoat of someone who is surrounded by bad fortune or events--if you're associated with bad things, you must be bad. That is something that really bothers me. I know it's just a character and it's fiction, so it seems harmless, but this is how witches got burned.
It's very clear that Cooper was surrounded by very polarizing forces, both good and bad, in his early life, in the book, and that something was trying to reach him through these women. Marie died, his mother died, but most of the other women just left him, were involved with other men, etc. It does not seem in any way like a demonic influence on his part--bad luck like this happens EVERY DAY to ordinary people in the real world. Caroline was a special case, but don't leave Windom out of the equation! We know something was at work (probably Judy) all along.
Wow, I'm going to have to read this now. Thanks for the heads up where to download it! It's funny, those of us who did not read his autobiography just assumed he was a straight A eagle scout, with a high moral compass and intellect, and very zen. Let's not forget Cooper's affair with Caroline, which was his former partner Wyndom Earle's wife.
He was all of those things.
If you read about the affair, Windom basically forced that to happen because he knew they were attracted to each other and he wanted to play with them. He had already tortured Caroline and forced her to become a heroin addict and a prostitute. Read the book and draw your own conclusions.
I would agree. Even just from the series it's clear Cooper ended up with the situation he did with Caroline as the result of his white knight character and instincts.
He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
People are keenly avoiding this one; nobody on this forum wants to touch this with a ten foot pole! It hit me like a brick wall in the face when I read this book again after letting it sit on the shelf for years. Felt like I'd found something out that I really didn't want to know.
I think it's more dismissing it than avoiding it. This Cooper has little relation to the one that appears in the series. It's just cashing in along with forced controversy and bad sex jokes.
Hi all. I know many of you may be aware of my theory that Agent Cooper as we know and love him is just one of many personalities of a schizophrenic murderer/rapist named Richard Tremond/Chalfont. I am not trying to shove this down your throats, but I urge you to read this book! It is a quick, easy read that can be accomplished within a few hours. It is free as a .pdf or iBook download if you do a simple internet search (don't pay exorbitant prices for the used paperback). Once you read this, I assure you that you will see "Cooper" differently. Here are some key things I want to point out that are made clear in this book.
- Dale was an odd child that was prone to very strange (sociopathic, if I may) behavior.
- He had dreams as a child of an "evil entity" trying to get into his bedroom (his mother shared these same dreams).
- He was a Peeping Tom; also spied on a girls' sex-ed class in school.
- While he seemed obsessive with his journaling much of the time - days, weeks, months, and even years would pass between certain entries - he would go "MIA" for long periods of time with no explanation whatsoever and certain tapes were erased. What was he doing???
- Dale was unmoved by the death of his grandmother (who died in his house). When his mother asked him to place his hand on her forehead so he wouldn't fear death, his reaction was just that she "felt like an old leather handbag."
- He once killed a bird just because he felt like it. He was unmoved by the experience.
- Many strange deaths occurred around him throughout his life. These include people who have wronged him or rejected him in some way.
- Many fires would randomly "break out" around him, which sometimes resulted in deaths.
- He had an unhealthy preoccupation with sex (in my opinion).
- He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
- He was prone to very melancholy, depressive, anti-"Coop" thoughts and behavior. He often stated that he wanted to disappear to a place where no one knew him.
- When he was on a vacation in the Caribbean, an old man told him he saw death in his face. (This man was found hanged the next day).
Again, I am not trying to hang EVERYTHING I believe on this book. I know we had two seasons of the original Twin Peaks, FWWM, and The Return. But I just can't for the life of me believe that we are expected to just completely discount this book. It was supported by the creators. What were they trying to tell us about our precious Dale Cooper?
I just read the book and thought it was like a great young adult novel, and very funny at times. I thought he was quirky and adorable. Sociopathic tendencies? He has far too much empathy for that. Your judgements about his sexual interests --he's an innocent who is dealing with his hormones and as soon as he's called out on the peeping Tom thing he stops. The interest with sex is normal for a male adolescent and he's clearly attractive to older girls who hit on him. The bird killing is a bit strange bit we know he hated birds because one attacked him and serial killers don't just kill animals, they torture them. There's nothing in the book that suggests Cooper is evil.
I agree with Cyndeewillow. I don't see anything sociopathic about his behavior.
I read the book very quickly some time ago. The couple of things that caught my eye was one or two references to electricity, and the fact Cooper went to Vegas as a young man and was thrown out of a casino for having a too good blackjack system.
Oh yeah, Tero, I completely forgot to mention those things! Could be a subtle reference to Dougie (Mr. Jackpots) and definitely the references to "electricity," which seems to be (at least to me) the primary theme in the Twin Peaks universe.
Hi all. I know many of you may be aware of my theory that Agent Cooper as we know and love him is just one of many personalities of a schizophrenic murderer/rapist named Richard Tremond/Chalfont. I am not trying to shove this down your throats, but I urge you to read this book! It is a quick, easy read that can be accomplished within a few hours. It is free as a .pdf or iBook download if you do a simple internet search (don't pay exorbitant prices for the used paperback). Once you read this, I assure you that you will see "Cooper" differently. Here are some key things I want to point out that are made clear in this book.
- Dale was an odd child that was prone to very strange (sociopathic, if I may) behavior.
- He had dreams as a child of an "evil entity" trying to get into his bedroom (his mother shared these same dreams).
- He was a Peeping Tom; also spied on a girls' sex-ed class in school.
- While he seemed obsessive with his journaling much of the time - days, weeks, months, and even years would pass between certain entries - he would go "MIA" for long periods of time with no explanation whatsoever and certain tapes were erased. What was he doing???
- Dale was unmoved by the death of his grandmother (who died in his house). When his mother asked him to place his hand on her forehead so he wouldn't fear death, his reaction was just that she "felt like an old leather handbag."
- He once killed a bird just because he felt like it. He was unmoved by the experience.
- Many strange deaths occurred around him throughout his life. These include people who have wronged him or rejected him in some way.
- Many fires would randomly "break out" around him, which sometimes resulted in deaths.
- He had an unhealthy preoccupation with sex (in my opinion).
- He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
- He was prone to very melancholy, depressive, anti-"Coop" thoughts and behavior. He often stated that he wanted to disappear to a place where no one knew him.
- When he was on a vacation in the Caribbean, an old man told him he saw death in his face. (This man was found hanged the next day).
Again, I am not trying to hang EVERYTHING I believe on this book. I know we had two seasons of the original Twin Peaks, FWWM, and The Return. But I just can't for the life of me believe that we are expected to just completely discount this book. It was supported by the creators. What were they trying to tell us about our precious Dale Cooper?
I just read the book and thought it was like a great young adult novel, and very funny at times. I thought he was quirky and adorable. Sociopathic tendencies? He has far too much empathy for that. Your judgements about his sexual interests --he's an innocent who is dealing with his hormones and as soon as he's called out on the peeping Tom thing he stops. The interest with sex is normal for a male adolescent and he's clearly attractive to older girls who hit on him. The bird killing is a bit strange bit we know he hated birds because one attacked him and serial killers don't just kill animals, they torture them. There's nothing in the book that suggests Cooper is evil.
I agree with Cyndeewillow. I don't see anything sociopathic about his behavior.
Well, technically a lot of those could be compelling risk factors in an anti-social personality disorder/sociopathy diagnoses. However, they need to be assessed in context and by their pervasive patterns.
So, sure, it's possible. But the information provided here by the OP is not adequate for an ASPD diagnosis. There are other possible things it could be including a spectrum disorder with some freaky para-psychology stuff going on ( 😉 ) or even a severe mood disorder with some freaky telekinesis stuff going on. 😛 It is a work of fiction afterall.
Either way, not diagnosable as it stands.
I have not read the book. I am only going off the post.
Hi all. I know many of you may be aware of my theory that Agent Cooper as we know and love him is just one of many personalities of a schizophrenic murderer/rapist named Richard Tremond/Chalfont. I am not trying to shove this down your throats, but I urge you to read this book! It is a quick, easy read that can be accomplished within a few hours. It is free as a .pdf or iBook download if you do a simple internet search (don't pay exorbitant prices for the used paperback). Once you read this, I assure you that you will see "Cooper" differently. Here are some key things I want to point out that are made clear in this book.
- Dale was an odd child that was prone to very strange (sociopathic, if I may) behavior.
- He had dreams as a child of an "evil entity" trying to get into his bedroom (his mother shared these same dreams).
- He was a Peeping Tom; also spied on a girls' sex-ed class in school.
- While he seemed obsessive with his journaling much of the time - days, weeks, months, and even years would pass between certain entries - he would go "MIA" for long periods of time with no explanation whatsoever and certain tapes were erased. What was he doing???
- Dale was unmoved by the death of his grandmother (who died in his house). When his mother asked him to place his hand on her forehead so he wouldn't fear death, his reaction was just that she "felt like an old leather handbag."
- He once killed a bird just because he felt like it. He was unmoved by the experience.
- Many strange deaths occurred around him throughout his life. These include people who have wronged him or rejected him in some way.
- Many fires would randomly "break out" around him, which sometimes resulted in deaths.
- He had an unhealthy preoccupation with sex (in my opinion).
- He was prone to very troubled relationships with women. Women he was involved with ALL, EVERY SINGLE ONE, either died or became institutionalized.
- He was prone to very melancholy, depressive, anti-"Coop" thoughts and behavior. He often stated that he wanted to disappear to a place where no one knew him.
- When he was on a vacation in the Caribbean, an old man told him he saw death in his face. (This man was found hanged the next day).
Again, I am not trying to hang EVERYTHING I believe on this book. I know we had two seasons of the original Twin Peaks, FWWM, and The Return. But I just can't for the life of me believe that we are expected to just completely discount this book. It was supported by the creators. What were they trying to tell us about our precious Dale Cooper?
I just read the book and thought it was like a great young adult novel, and very funny at times. I thought he was quirky and adorable. Sociopathic tendencies? He has far too much empathy for that. Your judgements about his sexual interests --he's an innocent who is dealing with his hormones and as soon as he's called out on the peeping Tom thing he stops. The interest with sex is normal for a male adolescent and he's clearly attractive to older girls who hit on him. The bird killing is a bit strange bit we know he hated birds because one attacked him and serial killers don't just kill animals, they torture them. There's nothing in the book that suggests Cooper is evil.
I agree with Cyndeewillow. I don't see anything sociopathic about his behavior.
Well, technically a lot of those could be compelling risk factors in an anti-social personality disorder/sociopathy diagnoses. However, they need to be assessed in context and by their pervasive patterns.
So, sure, it's possible. But the information provided here by the OP is not adequate for an ASPD diagnosis. There are other possible things it could be including a spectrum disorder with some freaky para-psychology stuff going on ( 😉 ) or even a severe mood disorder with some freaky telekinesis stuff going on. 😛 It is a work of fiction afterall.
Either way, not diagnosable as it stands.
I have not read the book. I am only going off the post.
I'd like to hear your opinion after you read the book, because I barely recognized the character in that list. There is "fact" in it, but no context. I realize I'm beating a dead horse here. It's only a work of fiction. Not sure why I'm feeling so passionate about it, but perhaps it's something that can happen in real life when a psychologist misdiagnoses a gifted child as mentally ill (something that can happen in real life). For example, Coop exaggerates his own culpability in situations, like the fires breaking out--there weren't really a lot of fires randomly breaking out around him as I recall.
Mood disorder? Maybe. This is TWIN PEAKS, after all. The entire cosmos could be diagnosed as one huge manic/psychotic episode. Maybe that's what the OP is thinking--that the whole cosmos of TP is a manic episode of Cooper? I suppose anything is possible!
I work with a lot of young people. Many times they do things that are not indicative of their adult selves. I'm sure that I did things in my youth that would be considered warning signs taken outside of the context of my whole self now that I am an adult. Sometimes when adolescents are trying on personas, they make mistakes and learn from them who they want to be.
I work with a lot of young people. Many times they do things that are not indicative of their adult selves. I'm sure that I did things in my youth that would be considered warning signs taken outside of the context of my whole self now that I am an adult. Sometimes when adolescents are trying on personas, they make mistakes and learn from them who they want to be.
Very true indeed. Which is why you can't diagnose a minor with Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Of course it's all different now with the release of the DSMV and I haven't practiced as a therapist for some years now.
Fire walk with