(Fwd) Recurring characters

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

Recurchar le femme.  V. is a character that finds expression in, I think, 
all of Pynchon's work (the novels anyhow.)  Most of you are warm to the 
V.-as-Goddess argument, and we've all noted the recurrence of V as part 
of Pynchon's lexicography.  Many also might agree that language is 
responsible for much of the degredation of Her power.  With this in mind, 
it will be interesting to investigate the presence of "V" in Pynchon's 
novels--both as a letter and a concept.  I'm sure this has been done, but 
now I'm driven to look more closely myself.  so, thanks for this helpful 
bit of curiosity.

Also, others I can think of that make more than one appearance:  Lardass 
Levine in "The Small Rain" makes his way in somewhere else (not sure if I 
can pin down one place or many.)  Pig Bodine is obvious.  He's there in 
"Low-lands" and everywhere else.  Also, in "Low-lands," Dennis Flange 
calls up "Wasp and Winsome," and I don't recall any other mention of 
either, but Mafia Winsome makes her presence heard in _V._  I could add 
the veiled presence of Roky Erikson, but that's so speculative and 
contentious.  I think Meatball Mulligan is in more than one of the short 
stories, possibly in the novels too.  Porpentine appears in "Under the 
Rose," as well as in _V._  (and GR?)  Bongo-Shaftsbury is a lso there in 
"Under the Rose," as well as in _V._  Same for Victoria Wren.  But this 
last is all to obvious.  Lepsius too.

Hasn't someone done this in publication?  Does Weisenberger's text 
illuminate?  I guess not specifically so.  Anyhow, hope this helps.

Bonnie Lenore Surfus
USF