themes of loss

[SHUBHA GHOSH]

On Sat, 23 Aug 1997, William Karlin wrote:

>   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?

THis is also reflected in the Old World-New World tension that permeates
and concludes the novel.  Is America where we must move on to after the
death of the Old World?  Does America have its own myths that "you too"
can partake in?  Keep in mind that the last line is spoken by Dr. Isaac
named after Newton whose last sentence is "And you too." Who's the you?
The "Everybody" of "Now, everybody--"  The ending of MD echoes GR just as
much as the opening sentence.

> 
> 
> cheers,
> 
> will
> 
> 
>