MDMD(2): Deflation and Friendship flip-flop

[jporter]

Andrew returns:

>Not sure I totally agree about Mason having any `useful' authority
>(although Mason does sometimes *try* to pull rank).  Recall the scene
>in the Saloon of Mason's Inn where the narrator states that they are
>both wary as to how the power will be sorted out between them. And
>indeed the outcome of that meeting is a standoff since they are both
>successively misled, embarassed, astonished and ultimately impressed
>with each other. I don't see either one having the upper hand from
>then on.

But there is nominally the difference in rank between them, and for Mason
the option of at least thinking he might be able to pull it, while at the
same time, doubting his ability to lead. It is an issue which lies between
them, through which they must negotiate their early interactions. Later it
becomes a joke. Rank is a given, a fact which belongs to both of them.
Melancholia is rather a happenstance. Until they "sort the power" between
them, there is at least rank to fall back on. In the early awkwardness that
structure provides a way to be, inspite of their differeces. It has been
given to Mason to decide when to "officially" call off the appearance of
formality, which Dixon, because he is Dixon, and perhaps more self-assured,
makes the effort to honor. Contrast Mason with Maskelyne later on.

>Nor do I concur with your (deleted) comment that there is no cute
>meet. The Saloon meeting seems pretty much like that to me.

 I meant not preaaranged, but by chance, if such exists. A thematic
question which Roger is uniquely capable of addressing, if not answering to
the satisfaction of either end of the spectrum of "statistical illiterates"
he has to work with. It was by chance, he would attest, the rocket blast
landed Jess in the jag next to him. After he has been smitten, he might
desire as much for control over events as Pointsman.


> Pynchon, by cloaking his perceptions in these doubly indirect
>reports, shows an incredible mastery of the art of story-telling. Oh
>and he also nails that ridiculous line about 2-dimensional
>characters. Nothing 2-d about the overlapping mental topographies we
>peruse in this scene.

I'll drink to that.

jody