Gottfried & Blicero

[jbor]

Yes, I've read the sort of criticism which takes Pynchon on for his supposed
homophobia and stereotyping (and racism!) in the novel. But I think that
these are critics who have needed to read *GR* in particular ways in order
to justify their own biases, and so have gotten all tangled up ascribing
their own good and evil (mainly evil) constructions as Pynchon's. If you
read the Blicero/Gottfried section as an affirmation of humanity then you
needn't run into this cul de sac. There's nothing intrinsically wrong with
shit, death, sex, genitalia, penetration, bodily contact, sperm, or what
have you anyway. These're all part of the miracle of Life.

The extraordinary honesty of the scene is deeply touching imo:

"It is important tonight that they both be men." (721.28)

I think that, like Gottfried, the reader must "keep himself open, loosen the
sphincter of his soul". (722.18)

best

----------
>From: Paul Mackin <pmackin at clark.net>
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: Gottfried & Blicero
>Date: Fri, Aug 18, 2000, 4:47 AM
>

>> Blicero and Gottfried seem to be the
>> > only major
>> > characters with a homosexual relationship in GR
>>
>> Not Blicero/Weissman and Enzian?
>
> How about Crutchfield and the Little Pard?
>
> Or Sir Marcus and Clive?
>
> Or Pudding and Pointsman Senior? (always wondered about them)
>
> Or Vaslov and do ya wanna keep coolen? Naw.
>
> Oh you're talking about major characters.