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

[Michael Perez]

In reply to my question regarding the Zone-Hereros' tribal suicide
plans where I asked:
> Is this a way of finally escaping displacement?

Terrance wrote:
 "I don't think so. This sounds like Hamlet with a twist.
Some say there is no escape. There is no escape in Pynchon's
earlier fiction, right? One of the reasons is that the whole
tribe going into an avenging battle is not an escape from
displacement, but only another Heart of Darkness. If there
is an escape, it is not an avenging battle from any side.
This is, I think one of Pynchon's central questions, one he
keeps asking, story after story, How do you defeat evil,
without evil?"

I agree:  there is no escape.  It was a sort of rhetorical question.  I
think the Zone-Hereros believe there is, as do many of those who
believe in some sort of ACTIVE (earthly or otherwise) existence after
death.  No one knows for certain what kind of continuance, if any,
there may be (spoken like the true agnostic I am) or could be, but many
people perpetuate all sorts of illusory "afterlives."  The shadow
existences in GR appear in the ravings of the characters, but offer no
more information about the reality of their illusions.  However, the
fact that they believe and go about their lives as if these illusions
are a part of nature, the reader is at least entertained and forced to
consider the wealth of attempts to cope with death and, occasionally,
life after death.  As far as the possibility of defeating evil without
being evil, I agree that is not possible.  This brings up the whole
issue of moral ambiguity (I hope this is a better term than
indeterminacy) that exists throughout _GR_.  Many believe that evil in
the service of goodness (or perceived goodness) is no longer evil,
vengeance is believed by many to be justified - before or after death.

Michael



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