Character Analysis
Emory Bortz is a professor who used to work at Cal but now works at San Narciso College. Oedipa wants to meet him because he edited the 1957 textbook from which Jacobean Revenge Plays (the edition Randolph Driblette used) published The Courier's Tragedy.
Oedipa travels to Bortz's home in San Narciso, where she finds him lying drunkenly in a hammock, surrounded by graduate students. She soon learns that they are all grieving for Randolph Driblette, who recently killed himself by walking into the Pacific Ocean.
At Oedipa's request, Bortz walks her through the various versions of the line that sometimes includes "Tristero" in Richard Wharfinger's play. Bortz gives Oedipa access to his collection of Wharfingeriana, including a book by a Dr. Diocletian Blobb (yes, that's a name in this book) written in Old English.
Using various sources, Oedipa manages to piece together the origins of the Tristero in the late sixteenth century. But when the historical record goes silent, Oedipa is content to mull over the questions. By contrast, Bortz lets his imagination run wild with explanations. More than any other character in the story, Bortz encourages Oedipa to run wild with Tristero conspiracy theories.
If Oedipa functions as an amateur literary scholar in the book, Bortz is the professional that she seeks out when she really needs help. But this professional literary scholar is kind of mess. He is drunk, oblivious to his wife and children, and happy to be fawned over by his graduate students. Though he gives Oedipa access to important materials regarding the play, he doesn't help her navigate them. His main contribution comes once Oedipa has done the work of establishing the facts, and he rushes in to speculate wildly.
Thanks for nothing, Bortz.