Missing parts

[Paul Mackin]

On Sun, 22 Aug 1999, JULIUS RAPER wrote:

> Terrance,
> 	The last part means that it appears to be the narcissistic desire
> for immortality that causes TRP's characters to try to replace frail human
> parts with ivory or metal or stone--or to identify with seemingly
> omnipotent weapons, abstract theories, and non-human robots.  Probably a
> theme he picked up from Henry Adams, who calls it a primary drive, one
> underlying sex and religion. 
> 	Pynchon appears more interested in preserving the human element,
> thereby leaving immortality to the artists who chance upon it, not by will
> or programme but by gift and circumstance.  


All quite in keeping with the practical consideration that none of
the various attempted fixes on human problems, especially that of 
mortality, ever seems to succeed. Mankind is simply inherently screwed.

Adams had it right though about the basic instinct not to give up
on immortality despite all discouraging evidence to the contrary. (I
assume he said something to this effect somewhere--if he didn't, he should
have)

I know there are folks who prefer see pynchonian reachings for beyond zero
and death as more than  mere instances of human hubris and failure.

To each his or her own.

	 P.