M&D 773

[davemarc]

Was Re: Transit of Venus (spoiler I guess)


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I see the Transit of Venus functioning in numerous ways.  I'm going to
express some of those ways in very simple or informal terms; each item
could
warrant quite a bit of discussion and analysis.

First of all, the narrative follows these two guys who were first brought
together to set their eyes on the TV (heh, heh), so it's part of the
"ready-made" storyline.  

Second, the Capetown adventure enables P to develop themes relating to
slavery and sexuality, imperialism, careerist infighting, explorations of
the natural world, and frontier life.

Third, the emphasis on space (that "final frontier") underscores parallels
between M&D's times and ours.  (FWIW, I kept on making associations between
this part of the book and Deep Space Nine.) 

Fourth, if I understand it correctly, the TV project had to do with taking
the measure of the Earth and charting the Heavens, major concerns of the
book.

Fifth, the description of the actual TV is, in my opinion, one of the most
moving and beautiful passages in the book.  It suggests that appreciation
of such phenomena can, at least temporarily, unify people or help them
transcend everyday pettiness.  Aesthetically, it provides a moment of
beauty and wonderment at page x in Part One.

Sixth, it adds to the chronological linearity of the book (compared to P's
other novels), removing any need to flashback into South Africa when M&D
are in America.  

davemarc