spoiler? 200 to be safe

[dennis grace]

Greetings, all.

First, I think Paul's explanation is probably correct:

>> Actually, I would argue that the simplest and most interesting
>> explanation for the capitalization thing (at least until someone here
>> throws out a simpler and more interesting one) is this:  As with other
>> aspects of M&D (the language, the "bad" words, the cinematic segues)
>> that have been hashed out in other threads, I think Pynchon is
>> shamelessly mixing 18th and 20th Century conventions.  Like
>> most everything else in this novel, the capitalization is evoking the
>> 18th Century while reaching forward and playing with the contemporary
>> scene as well.

Unfortunately, I don't think quite everyone knows what Paul means by
"18th...century conventions"--e.g. ray's:

>i agree with the idea that pynchon is epoch-splicing, but i don't see
>how it contributes to your point here ie 18/20 century convention
>mixing='random' capitalization---???

Perhaps calling this capitalization convention "18th century" is misleading.
I have reproductions of several 18th century works--Fielding's, Smollett's,
Swift's, Sterne's--which do not resort to the convention of capitalizing
dominant nouns (dominant nouns being just about any that aren't pronouns,
gerunds, or pronoun-like terms such as "thing") as well as certain
adjectives and verbs (for which I have yet to uncover a rationale).  Daniel
Defoe, otoh, was a consistent practitioner.  Take, f'rinstance, this sorta
kinda random paragraph from _Moll Flanders_, first edition (1722) [Norton
Critical edition, 1973] pg. 109:

We had now a second Conference upon the Subject matter of the last
Conference:  He laid his business very Home indeed; he protested his
Affection to me, and indeed I had no room to doubt it; he declar'd that it
began from the first Moment I talk'd with him, and long before I had
mention'd leaving my Effects with him; 'tis no matter when i begun, thought
I, if it will but hold, 'twill be well enough:  He then told me, how much
the offer I had made of trusting him with my Effects, and leaving them to
him, had engag'd him; so I intended it should, thought I, but then I thought
you had been a single Man too:  After we had Supp'd, I observ'd he press'd
me very hard to drink two or three Glasses of Wine, which however, I
declin'd, but Drank one Glass or two:  He then told he had a Proposal to
make to me, which I should promise him I would not take ill, if I should not
grant it: I told him I hop'd he would make no dishonourable Proposal to me,
especially in his own House, and that if it was such, I desir'd he would not
propose it, that I might not be oblig'd to offer any Resentment to him that
did not become the respect I profess'd for him, and the Trust I plac'd in
him, in coming to his House; and beg'd of him he would give me leave to go
away, and accordingly began to put on my Gloves adn prepare to be gone, tho'
at the same time I no more intended it than he intended to let me.

First off, you might note that the author uses only one period; the
functions of the period and colon still weren't quite codified at the start
of the 18th century.  As to capitalization, some apparent inconsistencies
arise.  "Effects" is always capitalize, but "business" is not.  All right,
you might argue, her "effects" are concrete, but compare "respect" and
"Trust"; both abstract concepts and both occuring in the same sentence.
Equally difficult to explain is the capitalization of "Subject" (adjectival)
but not of "matter."  And why are "Supp'd" and "Drank" capped?

Nonetheless, as random as Defoe's capitalization may appear, TRP's
capitalization in M&D is even more so.  On the first page, "table" and
"side-benches" are not capped but "Chairs" and "Sofa" are.  I note this for
two reasons:  (1) in support of Paul's reasoning regarding mixing of periods
and (2) to avoid the development of any nasty rumors that Daniel Defoe is
alive, still writing, and dwelling in seclusion in NYC with a wife named
Melanie and a child named Jackson.

I'll shut up and go to bed now.

Hogs and Quiches

dgg
__________________


Dennis Grace
University of Texas at Austin
English Department
Assistant Instructor
Recovering Medievalist

"And first, with relation to the mind or understanding, 'tis manifest what
mighty advantages fiction has over truth."  --Jonathan Swift's Grub-Street
Hack, _A Tale of a Tub_