GRGR(16) - Galina/Geli

[Terrance F. Flaherty]

David Morris wrote:
> 
> >From: "Terrance F. Flaherty"
> >
> >A double, the narrator said we would have doubles and
> >ancestors. Geli is an ancestor, Amy right? Is Galina an
> >ancestor? Geli has "inborn strength" and a magic that seems
> >beyond words and language, while Galina is shut in by words.
> >In fact, she is a letter, a scarlet letter perhaps, in T
> >view.
> 
> ----------
> (281.28) Signs will find him here in the Zone [Is this the first use of this
> term in GE?], and ancestors will reassert themselves.  It's like going to
> that Darkest Africa to study the natives there, and finding their quaint
> superstitions taking you over. [...]
>   Signs of Katje, and doubles too. [...]
> ----------
> 
> Next follows Slothrop's encounter with the little-girl ghost, summoned by
> the burning of dolls (but actually a Russian Jewess's) hair.  The scence is
> complete w/ a mechanical King Kong.  Slothrop thinks she's really "Katje,
> the lovely little Queen of Transylvania."
> 
> Katje, like V, is the Queen of Doubles.  But there are so many others.
> Slothrop might even be a quadrupal.  Geli/Galina are also, but their
> function in the text is what's unclear to me.  For Pynchon to have so
> blatantly laid out these pairs of women w/ birds _should_ have a meaning of
> function.

The women, seven major ones, though none, as major as a few
of the men, are not only doubles but are blended into each
other. If we keep our much needed distance from Slothrop's
consciousness we can untangle them, but if we are Slothrop,
as McHale says, they become one. 

> 
> As for ancestors,  for me this is a reversion to a state of numinous
> existence, where rational thought is not master.  Underlying meaning takes
> over.  You, the rational one, are not in control.
> 
> no concluions,
> David Morris
> 
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