GRGR(6) - Ep. 15

[Gary Thompson]

Thanks, rj. I knew it was around Lyle Bland somewhere, but couldn't
quite latch onto it.

rj wrote:
> 
> Gary:
> > There's a passage I'm looking for about how information is restricted
> > precisely from those who like Slothrop had the greatest interest in
> > finding it, throwing them (us?) back onto dreams, fantasies,
> > drug-induced visions, u.s.w. Anyone have a page no.?
> >
> 
> "( .... Those like Slothrop, with the greatest interest in discovering
> the truth, were thrown back on dreams, psychic flashes, omens,
> cryptographies, drug-epistemologies, all dancing on a ground of terror,
> contradiction, uncertainty.)" p. 582
> 
> I agree fully that the indeterminacy throughout the novel is a
> deliberate ploy. What intrigues and concerns me is that, once the reader
> acknowledges and accepts the illusory nature of historical 'truth' as
> represented by and in the narrative we are still disinclined to dispense
> with our instinctive moral compasses towards characters and events (both
> fictional and historical). There are a number of possible versions of
> both Slothrop's and Katje's activities in these sequences which suggest
> that they are either aware of, or are complicit in, the systems of death
> which they personally enhance.
> 
> What of *moral* indeterminacy in the novel?
> 
> best

I agree with Terrence in doubting how "instinctive" anyone's moral
compass (?) is. I think we are trained to want certitude and closure.
Maybe "historical 'truth'" is not illusory but multiple, and it is
assessed differently according to what our interests are? Are they
identified with the likes of Shell Mex House and IG Farben? With Roger
and Jessica? With Enzian and the Schwarzkommando (not themselves a very
unitary group)? It's hard to break the habit of wanting that theme music
rising up as the credits roll, but Katje's just not going to be either
the wooden-shoed Dutch girl or the Euro-vamp, but complicit and yet not
a neuter because of that. (She does join a kind of resistance, but never
giving everything of herself in the process.) 

What intrigues me is that, after all that is accounted for, there's
still no doubt who we should be rooting for here. RJ's on the nose with
that phrase "moral indeterminacy." I'm going to puzzle on it some more.

Gary