Prosthetic Paradise(2) Enfetishment&MS

[Michael Perez]

Terrance wrote:
"All empires are equal, does it follow from this statement
(let's assume its true) that there is moral indeterminacy?
What does Enzian say, 'Perhaps it's theatre, but they Seem
no longer to be allies...' What does he mean? And what does
it mean that he says or thinks this? GR.326"

Immediately after the quoted passage we are given "though the history
they have invented for themselves conditions us to *expect* 'postwar
rivalries,' when in fact they may all be a giant cartel including
winners and losers both, in an amiable agreement to share what is there
to be shared."  In fact, we find along the way within the text and in
the whole story behind some of the references in it, that this has
indeed been going on all along.  Business is business and knows no
boundaries.  Politically, there are rivalries.  There is much jockeying
for Control of people and land in the zones and other places among the
conquered territory.  This begins the pissing contest otherwise known
as the Cold War, of course.  Now the good guys are bad guys to each
other and can have a tug of war over the spoils.  Perhaps we can call
it moral ambivalence or situational ethics, but tactics belie any real
attempt at or concern with goodness.  Is this evil if it is the service
of whichever side one is on?  Yes, I believe this myself, but within
the text, much of it is treated matter-of-factly, wonderfully so.  I
think we are supposed to get the idea that the characters, for the most
part, in it for themselves and care (or know) very little about the
global changes occurring all around them.  This is the essence of my
"measly little lives" theory from early on in GRGR.  As to what Pynchon
reveals about his own ideas of morality, I really don't consider this
all that much.  Does he think capitalism is good or evil?  Does he eat
Count Chocula for breakfast?  I don't really care.  What he reveals in
the books demands the attention of an active reader.  It is not in
code, but is indeed open to many interpretations.  I don't think it was
meant to be a morality tale, but since most people have decided for
themselves what could be considered good or evil, moral or devoid of
morality, GR certainly challenges the reader's beliefs.


Michael





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Thousands of Stores.  Millions of Products.  All in one place.
Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com