GRGR(28): The Mandrake Root

[David Morris]

This mandrake root has a definite connection with this very early GR passage 
in which Slothrop comes face to face with the evil nature of the European 
Casino.  A magic moment almost happens, which might have saved Slothrop from 
his fate, and from the power of his past, but... no....

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(202.33) There may, for a moment, have been some
golden, vaguely rootlike or manlike figure beginning
to form [...] But Slothrop isn't to be let off quite
so easy.
----------

The dog's death may have been gratuitous, but it is a part of common lore, 
not Pynchon's invention:

http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/articles/m/mandrake.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/3664/mandrake.html

http://www.budget.net/~herbseed/mandrake.htm

http://www.humanities.ccny.cuny.edu/history/plague/545.htm

http://www.open-sesame.com/mandrake.html

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