The introduction of Audrey Lentz in Galalatea 2.2, proves to be an important aspect when trying to understand the infamous Helen.  The two come together perfectly when we try understand how one develops knowledge and perception.  Both seem to have what the other lacks, which can be seen in the paragraph that states:

                                 Audrey had smell, taste, touch, sight, hearing, but no new memory.  her long term reservoirs were drying up, through want of reiteration.  Imp H, on the other hand, could link any set of things into a vast, standing constellation.  But it had no nose, mouth, fingers, and only the most rudimentary eyes and ears (Lentz, 172).   

                      The above passage forms an interesting comparison in what both H and Audrey lack in trying to form a complete consciousness.  Audrey, being a human, has certain characteristics which aid in acquiring perception.  She has her five senses, all which can help in forming meaning in the world around her.  The soft, sensual touch of the geeky Henry Lentz could trigger a sense of love and compassion for the man.  She is equipped with all of the tools which process and enhance meaning and memory.  In my head, although it sounds strange, I envision Audrey as an old fashioned phone operator.  One that looks like this:

                                                                        

                                I see Audrey as the old lady with the headset.  She possesses all of the abilities to enhance and receive the information she encounters.  What she lacks is the circuit board to connect these messages into a concrete meaning.  She’s just an old lady in a chair being bombarded by information she can’t substantiate. 

                                 Helen is the other piece of the picture.  It has the ability to form concrete meaning, but lacks the human characteristics to adequately recieve this information.  It is the circuit board which is able to connect this information into meaning, but it’s essentially useless without the operator to complete the transformation of data into meaning.   

                     The two characters are indeed interesting kinds of machines.  Both have one important aspect in creating meaning, but lack the appropriate tools.  It makes me wonder if Henry is comparing both Helen and Audrey in order to help one or the other.  I only wonder which one he favors. 

                        While working on this piece, I also started to wonder why the narrator had named the machine Helen.  I came up with the idea that the name may be in reference to famous Helen Keller, the deaf and blind woman.  Keller, like Helen and Audrey, lacked aspects necessary in forming meaning.  It is only in the scene in which Keller has this explosive moment of clarity where she is able to develop meaning.  She understands that what she’s feeling is water.  I wonder if the name may foreshadow clarity reached by Audrey and the machine in the last section of the novel.