GRGR(8) Discussion Opener

[Kyburz at asu.edu]

On Mon, 13 Jan 1997, Paul Mackin wrote:

> > Does anyone have any thoughts about TRP's use of the word "cunt"? 
> > Every female I've ever met utterly despises the word.  It does have
> > a harsh, almost aggressive sound to it and is the word of choice
> > should one wish to denigrate or insult a female but find "bitch"
> > not to be sufficient.  Why did TRP choose this word rather than one
> > of the others such as pussy, quim, muff, etc.?


Because those choices, well, they suck.  Excuse me, but if we're talking
style here, then I won't mince words, which is what I understand Pynchon 
to have similarly decided when working toward a particular stylistic 
effect here.  Come on, what other word would suffice?


> 
> Well, it IS the word Virginia Woolf might have used under the circumstances
> (and  probably did, though I can't remember exactly where this hot minute).
> 
> Repeated three times in one paragraph woulda got Pynch marked down in
> English Comp 101, but NOT in the novel of the century. He knew
> OTHER words but evidently liked the sound of THIS one. (Isn't it a
> better choice than the alternatives suggested?)
> 
> Stylistically, the TOUGHNESS of the word contrasts beautifully
> with the  TENDERNESS of the moment. (There must be some Greek
> word describing such a rhetorical figure.)
> 
> HARSH as the word "cunt" is considered by some to be, the author is not
> committing an AGGRESIVE act--against an individual--merely by
> putting it in his book. WRITING it is not the same as SAYING it to someone.
> 
Again, excuse me, but, er, bullshit.  This flimsy assertion (the last, 
above) seems like a defense for poor old Tom Pynchon.  But really now, is 
anyone attacking him here as a sexist, or are you just afraid, too 
sensitized to "what we might think."  Sometimes, as a woman who enjoys 
PYnchon, I worry about folks just holding back their honest opinions 
(don't just need to go wild here and send me dirty notes, etc.), about 
the perception that if I like Pynchon, I must be willing to accept 
misogyny (I've heard this one before) or even that I enjoy it--abuse, 
etc.  And hey, writing it, well, it is saying it--and all the more power 
to the character doing so--don't confuse the roles too much, eh?

. . . .the way it seems to me.


Bonnie L. Kyburz, Instructor
Department of English			(602) 965-7756 (office)
Arizona State University		kyburz at asu.edu
Tempe, AZ  85287-0302			*or* surfus at chuma.cas.usf.edu