Drugs in Pynchon's fiction

[Terrance F. Flaherty]

In SL intro is speaking of the preview to the college
dropouts of the 60s, he writes, "I was hugely tickled by all
forms of marijuana humor, though the talk back then was in
inverse relation to the availability of that useful
substance." 

How is this a clear endorsement? In any event, I made it
clear, in his Fiction, I don't find Pot to be a positive. 

rj wrote:
> 
> > How about Pot? I don't think Pot is portrayed in a positive
> > light either?
> 
> In the *Slow Learner* intro Pynchon describes it as a "useful
> substance". This is about as clear an endorsement as I can imagine.


> 
> However, I don't think *GR* or any of the novels are intended as pro- or
> anti-drug polemics.

Agreed


 What Pynchon seems to be interested by in *GR* is
> this cartelization of drug manufacture and supply beyond the putative
> political divisions of the wars (II and Cold), in the same ways as
> Imipolex and the whole Shell and IG Farben thing.

Yes, and LSD and Imipolex G, come from the same place. 

 He also portrays the
> black market as a sort of underside reflection of this cartel process;
> like the Trystero, it is a Counterforce operating beyond the legal
> boundaries as well as being in opposition to the covert political
> hierarchy pulling the strings (the "They").

Yes, and as Slothrop discovers, the underside, black market
is set up just like the white one. 

 But I doubt that you can
> arrive at so simplistic a formula as saying that Pynchon presents the
> one (the Cartel) as evil and the other (the black market) as positive
> and potentially liberating, even so. Saure and der Springer aren't
> heroes or saviours in my book either.

Right.

> 
> The references to transcendentalism and magic rituals involving natural
> psychedelics seem to be nostalgic and idealised, but are affirmational
> nonetheless. I get the sense that Pynchon is presenting the
> transformation of social relations and of Nature brought about under
> industrial capitalism, and how these individual and local enclaves where
> naturally-occurring pharmaceuticals were used are gradually being
> stamped out, in various ways.
> 
> best


Right, I agree. 

Tf