The Girl Who Was Plugged In

P. Burke is the central character of “The Girl Who Was Plugged In.” She is a 17-year-old girl, without family or friends. She’s described as unattractive and physically disformed. The narrator often describes her in exaggerated, monstrous and animalistic terms, and her own sense of self-worth is closely linked to her unfortunate appearance. That’s why she’s chosen by GTX for the role of Remote; her low self-esteem and desire for self-effacement make her easy to control.

P. Burke exhibits a high degree of passivity and is happy to comply with what Mr. Cantle tells her about her role. It’s that same passivity that comes into play when she gets caught up with Paul Isham. But there’s more to it than that. There’s actually something remarkable about P. Burke, which helps explain both her tremendous success as a Remote and her tragic end. She may be passive, and self-effacing, but she feels and loves intensely.

The joy P. Burke feels shines through to Delphi, and there’s an inner grace too—"somewhere in that horrible body is a gazelle, a houri, who would have been buried forever without this crazy chance” (47). It’s not just a role—Burke really does lose herself in Delphi, and when audiences love Delphi, it’s those hidden qualities in Burke they’ve loving too.