MDMD (1) and Vineland

[dennis grace]

Just a thought.  Freensi Gates (Vineland) ponders the BIG computer:

"If patterns of ones and zeros were "like" patterns of human lives and
deaths, if everything about an individual could be represented by a long
string of lives and deaths? It would have to be up one level at least--an
angel, a minor god, something in a UFO.  It would take eight human lives and
deaths just to form one character in this being's name--its dossier might
take up a considerable piece of the history of the world.  We are digits in
God's computer, . . ." (90).

Now in M&D we see Ethelmer pondering upon Wade LeSpark's Fortune, noting "If
there are Account -books in which casualties are the Units of Exchange,
then, . . . , his Uncle is deeply in Arrears" (31).

So what's the computer/Account-book?  Karma?  I'm thinking it's America.

dgg
_____________________________
Dennis Grace
University of Texas at Austin
English Department
Recovering Medievalist

The pursuit of truth, not of facts, is the business of fiction.
                                            --Oakley Hall