The Zone, and what about those girls (is also Re: GRGR (15): Enzian, nihilism, and a few other thingsRe: The Zone, and what about those girls (is also Re: GRGR (15): Enzian, nihilism, and a few other things

[rj]

M.Perez:
> The shadow
> existences in GR appear in the ravings of the characters, but offer no
> more information about the reality of their illusions.

I think this goes for the "real" world of the war and the cartels and
the governments and the nationalities as much as it does for the
"irreal" faith systems which the characters (and readers) profess.

Geli is yet another of Pynchon's female characters who *knows*. She has
read Tchitcherine's mail. She has tamed and taught that owl. And, she is
the witch straddling the A4, symbol of that inexplicable supernatural
something which causes the rocket to defy (male) science and logic.
"[C]arrying her obsolete broom over her shoulder" is her own ironic
self-realisation. She tells Slothrop "I like playing." In other words,
she likes to subvert the best-laid plans of (mice and) men in their
incessant power plays. Slothrop is not amused by this. He scolds her,
and she pouts. But her spells are potent, and she is Slothrop's
protectress. Slothrop learns.

best