V. - Mafia Winsome

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

Christiane,
I can certainly see how the association is made between Rand and 
Winsome.  I'm not sure I like it, but I think I see it.  If names are any 
indication, then it is more of a slam than a "parody", or so it seems.  
Rand, who died about 5 years ago, had rather a cult following, 
particularly for her _The Fountainhead_ and _Atlas Shrugged_; the latter, 
a title that is brilliantly simple yet so FULL.  In terms of Pynchon, you 
can most likely "see" something of the associaten simply by considering 
this title alone.  But the book is rather short and it _is_ compelling 
reading, so you may want to have a look.  She is notable for 
pro-capitalist dreams--rags to riches, or rather, riches beget riches, 
ideologies that, for many, are threatening to (pc?) democratic or simply 
leftist thought.  But decide for youself.  I believe she has much more to 
offer than a staunch political orientation.  She too, offers a sense of 
parody--no--I would say satire, as I believe it's a much more 
comprehensive and powerful genre that encompasses parody but goes much 
farther  in its scope.
If there is,as I've noted, anything in a name, then the thought of such a 
powerful charcacter (as the protagonist in _The Fountainhead_), as 
"winsome" makes her somewaht of a sap.  She does have her dreams.  And 
many believe she crushes to see them actualized.  I prefer to think of 
her as the earlier, healthier, heartier Cinderella figure that was 
destroyed by western translations of the tale.
AS for Jacqueline Susanne, isn't she  a popular writer, along the lines 
of Jackie Collins?  I believe she had greater fame in the  70's.  Many 
though of her as "shocking", if I'm correct, suggestive (but probably 
more like honest), sensual, etc.  I could be wrong, but that's what I 
seem to recall of her.  

Hope that helps.

Bonnie Lenore Surfus
USF
surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu

 On Tue, 11 Oct 1994, 
Christiane Nahrendorf wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm working on a paper on the women in Pynchon's novel V.  I
> read some critics who talked about Mafia Winsome who stated that
> she is a "parody of Ayn Rand" (M. Hite) and "a racist version of
> Jacqueline Susann" (C. Stimpson). Do you know any of these
> women?  
> 
> Christiane
> 
>