The Embattled Keith Strikes Back!

[Tom Stanton]

At 11:27 PM 9/9/97 -0400, Brecher_Keith/mskcc_Neurology at mskmail.mskcc.org
wrote:
>Item Subject: Re: TWILIGHT OF THE IDOL(SMASHER)
[snip of lots of stuff]]

>     The apotheosis of TRP's missed message motif occurs where else but in 
>     GR  and there are many instances; the most salient are the Kirghiz
light       
>     episode and Slothrop's missed revelation at Test Stand VII. I sure
don't   
>     know how the old Pynchon made anybody believe he was privy to truths
his   
>     bumbling, sweet characters and his brilliant, gimlet-eyed readers
would    
>     ever be on the verge of deciphering, but considering the astounding
     
>     intellects on this list, somebody out there must know. 

This has been a sore point for you, but IMHO it was most certainly
intentional. Late in the book there are a series of references to failed
rescues: Superman, The Lone Ranger, etc. [don't have text right in
front of me] all fail, as does the Counterforce. *That's the point* you
see. The great revalations never come, there never is the moment
of truth, only the disassembly of Slothrop in the text (as opposed to
the literal disassembly of V. in the story). I'd be hard-pressed to think
up any different ending(s).

Tom