GRGR1: Discussion opener for section 1

[Stephen Brown]

It's 20 years since my last read, but here's my go at the first
chapter:
 
>1)  The opening dream sequence steps down into an enframing narrative
>    set in the apartment. Why does Pynchon start in medias res and in a
>    nested context?  What does this achieve?
>
>2)  What does the *dream* signify?

A descent into hell:

     "Inside the carriage, which is built on several levels, he sits
in velveteen darkness......feeble ones, second sheep.... naphtha
winters....Absolute Zero...." 

>    What? Does the dream *signify*?

The descent into War.  Perhaps also the underground system, where
Londoners took refuge during the Blitz. 

>4)  "It has happened before but there is nothing to compare it to now"
>    Why nothing to compare it to if it has happened before? What is
>    *it*, anyway?

Before the V2's, London had been bombarded by V1's - the Doodlebugs. 
The V1's were powered by jet - rather than rocket - engines.  The
moment to start panicing was when you heard the engines cut out. 

>6)  What exactly are all those bananas about?

Bananas weren't available in the UK during WWII.  They returned in
1946, when a 3 year old girl died after eating 4 of them.

The banana feast/orgy is heaven after Prentice's vision/premonition
of hell.  Also (natch) the curved trajectory of death.
 
>7)  `Incoming mail'?

(In)coming male?  Slothrop?

>9)  Anyone know the song (have a bana-na p 8)? Care to post a sound clip?

It's a well-known Cockney music hall chorus, but I don't know the
verses and I'm not about to post a sound file. Sorry. 

>10)  Ok, so Pirate is a disturbed individual. But is the fantasy fantasy
>    perhaps a fantasy too far?

Perhaps his psychosis/clairvoyancy is only really meaningful later.

>11) What does `your sound will be the sizzling night' actually mean?
>    What? Does `your sound will be the sizzling night' actually mean . . .

I think Dave Evers may be on to something in refering to Finnegan's
Wake. The early chapters of FW concern the fall from grace.  A-and
how about this quote: 
     "Draw the shades, curfe you, and I'll beat any sonnamonk to
love.  Holy bug, how my highness would jump to make you halve a
bannan in two when I'd run my torchlight through..."

>12) Anyone know the song (the san-jak of No-vi Pa-zar! p 14). Care to etc.

Sanjak and Novi seem to relate to Turkey, which became Westernized in
the 20s and joined the Allies in 1945, presumably after some serious
work by The Firm.  Can't find any link to Pazar, but check out TRP's
references to 'Balkanosis, and the 'Ottaman rump'. 

>13) Who are `The Firm'? (aka `Them' p 14). Just how many Firms are there?

I think this refers to the British Secret Service of the period -
predecessors of MI5/6. The Adenoid in St James's is conceivably a
reference to the nasal tones of the Eton-educated toffs at the
British Foreign Office (FO). 

(They're still there.)

Anyone any theories as to the identity of Blatherard Osmo?

Keep reading.




Stephen Brown
London
sbrown at sprocket.win-uk.net