GRGR (5) PK

[Michael Perez]

Justin reminded us of Jessica's question:
". . .what about the girls?" [87.3] 

In answer to which Benjamin wrote:
"Jessica's insidious influence on Mexico, which Pointsman rightly
fears.
(That old Ned's like some kinda mind-reader!)"

I think it is true that Pointsman is of the opinion that Jessica is
subverting Roger's objectivity - I don't know about "fear," but I'm
prepared to allow Pointsman SOME emotion, I suppose.  Jessica's
question gets to ol' Rog, robbing of some much needed sleep and causing
a small but telling confrontation with Pointsman during their stroll on
the beach.  Pointsman asks: "Are you actually worried?"  Obviously,
Pointsman is not and Roger changes gears and tries to ingratiate
himself to Pointsman by saying that it might tie in with his
"ultraparadoxical phase" and then says:  "I want to know what you're
really looking for."

Well, what is Pointsman looking for?  The mystery stimulus, yes.  To be
the new Pavlov, yes.  To have influence and control, yes.  Funding and
foxes of his own, definitely.  Another question is:  Does Roger really
want to know?  Roger is the dutiful cog in the wheel, doing what he
loves to do - plug numbers into statistical formulas and obtain a
result, not an answer, a result, a solution to a mathematical problem. 
I don't think Roger has any real illusions of control (he leaves that
to Mother), but Pointsman does, of course.  Roger is just beginning to
realize what his work means in the real world, actuarial tables can
represent real people.  Jessica's question brings that into his
consciousness for, perhaps the first time.  He is only beginning to see
the proverbial "big picture."  Which brings me back to my infamous
"measly little lives" theory, that even though Pynchon places his
characters in the midst of some of the most important events and people
in history, the characters he creates are still just trying to get
through the day.  They very seldom (perhaps never) are conscious of
where or with whom they are.

Michael




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