WvB quote

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 9 Jan 1996, JM wrote:

> This whole question of the WvB quote came up some months or years ago.  I 
> remember seeing it in the archives.  As I recall the consensus then was that P 
> had probably made it up himself.  I still haven't seen anyone come up with a 
> solid source for the WvB quotation.   The scary part is that when I first read GR, 
> back in the 70s, I took the WvB quotation (along with the song at the end of 
> the novel) very much at face value.    There is another quotation (from Emerson) 
> -- and I'll look for it if anyone asks -- that makes an assertion very similar to 
> the one found in the concluding verses in GR.  I guess we believe what we want 
> to believe, and if some recognized 'authority' adds his or her support--well then 
> a comfortable certainty is just that much easier.        -jm   
> 


I don't think you could exactly say there was a consensus. A few
people, at least, on the P-list thought the vB quote might be made
up. However, Steven Weisenburger said on p. 15 of the GR Companion that 
the words are taken from the remarks of WvB before the July 1969 moon 
launch. I think he later said on the list (can't remember when) that 
there had been difficulty pinning down the exact place P. might 
have picked up the quote. Don't know if there is further info as a result
of his researches.

Of course there _is_ a lot of discussion in the media these days about
the _legitimacy_ of putting made-up words in the mouths of historic 
characters. Like in Oliver Stone's Nixon. Pynchon doesn't normally
do it unless it's clearly labelled a joke. (Here's your ass, general.)
Don't think anyone would object if he did, however. Is there a difference 
between popular movies and highbrow fiction in this regard? Would it be 
elitist to claim yes?

Don't recall previous discussion about the song at end of the book.
Might make a good thread. vB is pretty well exhausted.

					P.