themes of loss

[William Karlin]

  What follows is a little rough around the edges, but I'm hoping this
sparks some discussion (it's been so quiet!).  Though the lull has allowed
me to catch up on a rather large backlog of mail that accumulated during
my vacation...


  After reading about Mason's visit to Cock Lane in hopes of once again
seeing Rebekah (Ch. 18) I starting thinking about how "loss" permeates
M&D.  At first I was thinking only of Mason's loss of Rebekah and her's
and others' attempts to help him move along with his life, but I realized
that a few things (and I'm sure I've only touched on a couple here) also
fit into a scheme of one having lost something and then being faced with
the prospect of having to move on.  I'm going to mention two more losses
and am interested in hearing of other losses, and about if and how they
are all linked up thematically.
   The two other losses that sprang to mind are:  the loss of magic in the
world to man's need to draw lines upon Her; and the loss of God to Deism
(and unbelief?).  
   One clear connection would be 
Magic/God/Love vs.Rationalism/Deism/Death; but I wonder about other
possibilities.  Any ideas?

  Beyond any connections between these ideas, P stresses that everyone
(Rebekah, Dixon, etc.) is trying to coax Mason into moving on.  That a
loss no matter how terrible can be overcome in some way.  That one must
continue.  Is he also talking about that the loss of Magic and God are 
Fact and we must all move on?  Are there recommendations for how to move
on like Dixon's continuing pleas for Mason to go meet another woman?  Are
there other Magics, other Gods?  Again, any thoughts?


cheers,

will