GRGR(5): Pudding & human respect

[rj]

"Benjamin G. Sayre" wrote:

> Because Pudding is tragically weak.  Doesn't it seem later in the book
> that Pudding has been somewhat complicit in PISCES depravity?  Pudding 
> knows Pointsman is warped at a basic level, but he still allows himself to
> be manipulated because Pointsman seems to have some scientific/objective
> wammy on the Brigadier.  Perhaps he's interested in maintaining the
> appearance of power.  (Pretty plain the man has some interesting
> sensibilities.)

Pudding's hooked on Katje, Mistress of the Night, whom Pointsman has
procured for him. In order to be able to submit to her (is it love?) he
will sacrifice all else: power, self-respect, his life. The shift in the
balance of power within PISCES is thus manipulated by Pointsman, but a
generational change in terms of ethics, humanity, mindset is also
represented in the juxtaposition of Pudding's decline with Pointsman's
ascent. Depravity is the common denominator here.

best