GRGR(4): Kenosha Kid//:: a 'formalistic' reading

[Paul Mackin]

Lorentzen / Nicklaus wrote:
(omissions)

>
> In a way, the framework of this episode reminds me of the end of "Ulysses".
> Before we can float with Molly Bloom's (un)conscious, the conventional
> expectations of novel-readers get fulfilled in a pseudo-'rational' form in
> chapter 17 (- "* What parallel courses did Bloom and Stephen follow returning?
> ..."). & aren't the variations on "You never did the Kenosha Kid!" quite similar
> to "Sinbad the Sailor and Tinbad the Tailor and Jinbad the Jailer and Whinbad
> the Whaler and Ninbad the Nailer and Finbad the Failer and Binbad the Bailer and
> Pinbad the Pailer and Minbad the Mailer and Hinbad the Hailer and Rinbad the
> Railer and Dinbad the Kailer and Vinbad the Quailer and Linbad the Yailer and
> Xinbad the Phthailer"?!

I like this interpretaton. The passages do seem so super-rational like as if
Slothrop was doing his darndest to stay sane in the face of an insurmountable
onslaught.  Anything but a dream, rather a hyper conscious state.
Reminds me a the deep discussion that went on here in America some years ago now.

WHY are we in Vietnam?
Why ARE we in Vietnam?
Why are WE in Vietnam?
Why are we IN Vietnam?
Why are we in VIETNAM?

                                                P.