GRGR (15): Enzian, nihilism, and a few other things

[Doug Millison]

Michael Perez tells us that "Weisenburger points out that Pynchon's
probable source for Herero info, Luttig, explains that the tribal suicide
may be an act of "blood vengeance."   "'A person who commits suicide under
these circumstances is also actuated by the thought that the dead are
capable of bringing about evil and death more effectively than the living.'
If so, imagine the whole tribe going into an avenging battle from the Other
Side." [SW, p.162] "

This Lutting insight sounds as if it could have been the inspiration for
Brock Vond's end in Vineland, when goes across the river to the waiting
spirits of the dead Yuroks.

d  o  u  g    m  i  l  l  i  s  o  n
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