If you have read a Jack Reacher book or watched the Prime Video adaptation of those books, you have most likely thought about why Jack Reacher does not simply buy a mobile phone. He is six-foot-five inches tall, was in the military, and frequently finds himself in situations that can be resolved by making a quick phone call to someone who can help him. Instead, he walks into trouble with a folding toothbrush and little else.
One of the best-known aspects of this character, yet one of the least understood, is the no-phone policy. This is not simply a quirk or an easy way to write. Rather, it is a key component to understanding the nature of Reacher. Once you realize how the no-phone policy relates to his identity, the entirety of the series will begin to make sense.
What Reacher Takes With Him
Reacher’s current life as a drifter is defined by his past as a former major in the US Military Police. As a result, Reacher doesn’t live at any single location but instead travels throughout America using whatever means available to him, either by walking, hitchhiking, or riding on buses.
His lack of a fixed home, employment, family connections, personal vehicle, luggage, cellular telephone, and credit cards allows him to be extremely mobile. The only item he carries with him is a small folded toothbrush. During the time since he started traveling, Reacher has added two more items to his gear: an ATM card and a passport.
The concessions mentioned above are also made reluctantly. As Lee Child (the creator of Jack Reacher) has stated, Reacher is extremely irritated that he has to use an ID and an ATM card. The novels illustrate that after 9/11, Reacher required a photo ID and a debit card to continue his travels within today’s society. Thus, these items are included in the later novels. Prior to the publication of the first novel in the series in 1997, Reacher was able to travel using even fewer identification documents.
The same logic applies to Reacher’s wardrobe. When Reacher needs to replace dirty clothing, he will purchase new items at any discount store close to where he is located. Washing clothes is an act of binding oneself to a location. Reacher does not bind himself to locations. When Reacher is short of funds, he has taken short-term employment or had money sent to him via wire transfer. He does not own a telephone, keys, or a fixed residence.
A Phone Is A Leash
The simplest explanation is that a cell phone connects you to the rest of the world, and Reacher is based upon the concept of having no connection to anything. A cell phone is associated with a phone number, and the phone number is tied to a service agreement, and the service agreement is connected to a mailing address and bills. These are each small commitments which will eventually lead him back to the type of stable life he had when he left the military. The telephone also records where you are, thus allowing others to locate you at any given time.
Child puts his philosophy about life into simple words. During an interview, Child stated that Reacher does not care too much about material goods, and that is a positive thing for men, since men do not require as much as women. This was a brief statement by Child; however, it gave insight into what kind of person Reacher is. He views possessions as a burden, and a cell phone is simply the most current version of a heavy possession. Cinemablend
It’s Also A Practical Choice For A Man Who Doesn’t Want To Be Found
A quieter and perhaps more interesting reason to consider is the fact that Jack Reacher has spent his entire professional life as a military investigator. As such, he is well aware of how individuals can be traced by investigators. He also understands the significance of what a cell phone reveals to an investigator who is determined to find someone: i.e., where you have been, whom you have contacted, and where you are most likely to travel in the near future.
That was my interpretation. However, it’s not explicitly stated in the book. He’s made many enemies over time and therefore has a very strong incentive not to have any electronic footprint. No cell phone equates to no tracking information, no call history, and no messages available for subpoenas. Today, we are all tracked to some degree. Therefore, not having an electronic footprint is a way of protecting yourself. It’s also why he feels so liberated. When he leaves a community, he actually disappears.
Why Is It Such A Great Way To Tell Stories
In terms of writing, I think the decision to have no phones is one of the best creative decisions the show has made. Phones are an absolute nightmare for writers who write thrillers. A great deal of effort in today’s modern crime stories is devoted to finding ways to remove characters from cell coverage areas, or to explain why they can’t simply text somebody.
Reacher avoids the issue completely. He doesn’t have a phone. Therefore, he must physically go into the sheriff’s department, interview witnesses in person, search through paper files, and utilize payphones to make calls. These actions create an organic sense of suspense and contribute to the old-school or western vibe of the novels.
He is a solitary individual who comes into a tiny community with nothing but his intelligence, and the visual representation of this would not be as effective as it would be if he were looking at maps on a computer screen.
The isolation of the character increases the importance of each battle he faces. Since he cannot immediately call for aid, each conflict is more significant. If things go awry, no one will be there to save him. He must resolve issues by taking the most challenging route since he has no other alternative. This is precisely why the reader came to this story.
The Real Reason We Love It
I believe the fact that Reacher doesn’t use a cell phone resonates with so many of us because we all have a sense of being tied down to our technology. A large number of us dream about getting away from the notifications, the e-mails, the constant connectivity. Reacher does it. He experiences the freedom that we all desire and, as far as I can tell, there have never been any dramatic consequences for him to pay for doing so.
The true experience would be even more challenging. One person who attempted to live like Reacher for several weeks described the experience as tiring; another quit using his basic flip phone because he realized how difficult life is today without a smartphone. The idealization of this lifestyle is what makes the character so appealing. It is an ideal life that most people cannot even begin to visualize or replicate.
