Discussion opener for GRGR(4) (church and hospital)

[mglosup at randomc.com]

On  5 Nov 96 at 11:28, Andrew Dinn wrote:

> Seems to me that Pynchon does not recommend
> any continuing struggle on the off chance that one day it might pay
> off but rather because resistance pays off every now and then with a
> moment of liberating independence (from self and others).

The application of this observation, so neatly stated above,  can be
expanded beyond the paragraph to which Andrew refers to GR as a
whole. Resistance as moral(?) imperative, as opposed to
goal-oriented  expedient, is a thread running throughout. Resistance
abounds at multiple systemic levels in GR.  In GRGR(4) we are
introduced to the  competing subsystems of the White Visitation,
which in turn is a competing subsystem within the allied intelligence
machine, etc.  But at the level of  ultimate resistance, that of the
system's base component-the individual, it is a pure revolt against
the totality instead of a simple competing agenda. Is this 
resistance, lacking in tangible incentive, a moral decision, unlike 
the other resistances driven by natural compulsion? Anyway, Andrew's 
comment struck me as a very nice response to anyone asking, "tell me 
about this Pynchon stuff."


Michael Glosup