Pynchon and systems

[johns at nbn.com]

First, a hearty thank you to all of you for stimulating a long and abiding 
love for Pynchon. I've said it over and over during the years, he's spoiled me 
for other writers, and I think _you_ all know what I mean.

Your discussions have also made me think deeply. The premise which comes to 
mind is - TP tracks the interaction of systems in his works. These systems 
exist on various levels, some personal, like the system of the black-market 
(Sauer Bummer, Trudi, etc.) in Berlin in GR, larger but "illegitimate" systems 
like Der Springer's organization or W.A.S.T.E., which are loosely knit 
structures but systems none the less. 
There are examples of mechanical systems, the plumbing in various books, the 
rocket (also could be thought of as advanced plumbing), V.'s mechanical 
prostheses. 
Places as systems, Foppel's villa, the Aubis, the sewers in V., San Narcisco, 
each having a fundamental essence and each throwing together people, arranging 
them into some neat and some not so neat entities and sub-systems of their 
own. 
Then there are the evident macro-systems of industrial cartels, governments, 
(the same?), and politics.
Each of these systems take in, modify, and kick out the basic unit in which TP 
specializes in - people. The effects are noted on both the subject and the 
system. It seems like each of the characters are data points which can be 
charted by success, survival or achievement (selling out?), and failure, 
disassociation, small Delta-T's, or death.
The systems themselves are affected by the subjects, The While Visitation's 
eventual failure, WASTE metamorphosed into a different system over the 
centuries, I.G. Farben as tracked in GR. Foppel's memories of the changes in 
the system during Von Trotha's "Vernichtungs Befehl", still in place but 
different after Von Trotha left. 
There are many references to people who are disillusioned with the systems 
they have been caught up in, Mondaugen, Porpentine, Mexico, Odipia, Margarita 
(Greta) Erdmann, Tchitcherine, Squalidozzi, and Profane to name just a few. 
The fact that some youth are treated as innocents, not corrupted by systems, 
or corrupt, caught up in various cogs.
I apologize to any “old timers” who may have read something like this, here,  
before.

Regards,
John Sergneri
johns at nbn.com