grgr: overcoming of metaphysics

[David Morris]

>From: "Otto Sell"
>
>"a good Rocket to take us to the stars, an evil Rocket for the World`s 
>suicide, the two perpetually in struggle." (727)
>
>Every metaphysical system is based on binaries and Pynchon uses them all 
>(according to deconstruction, but you can forget that word if it disturbs 
>you - in the case of Pynchon just cling to look for binaries and (their) 
>zeros, circles in all variations - zero and circle share the same symbolic 
>values, standing at the same time for the nice binary of All vs. Nothing - 
>from horoscopes to Joseph Campbell`s hero business and Rocket Mandalas, 
>inversions, reversements, interfaces and crossover points) for his game, 
>mocking them all. So he`s not metaphysical or gnostic at all. [snip]<
>
>"It all goes along together. Parallel, not series. Metaphor. Signs and 
>symptoms. Mapping on to different coordinate system (...)." (GR, p. 159) - 
>mapping, that`s what Pynchon does.<

I don't think I agree with your characterization "mocking them all."    If 
this were so then Michel's scenario for Pynchon's use of Heidegger would be 
very close to yours: "Pynchon, sitting at his desk and having read (an 
article on) Heidegger, thinks: 'Let's put a bit of the man's ideas in it.  
It will confuse them further and confusion is my game.'

If you go to the context of the passage you quote above, you'll find its 
Leni defending the concept of the astrology, which Pokler scoffs as not 
"cause-and-effect" oriented, and thus illogical.  If this kind of mapping is 
also the structure of GR, it is presumtuous to assume they are all only a 
game, and that in his heart Pynchon really sides with Franz over Leni.  
Rather than mocking, I'd call his use of them an hommage.

[big snip]
>Are we on the list Pynchon-Kabbalists who study the novel as our Torah?<

In some ways I think this is exactly how it's meant to be read.

>Sorry, but I like it that simple and I like it when text passages are given 
>in discussing a book.<

Me too, which you'll note is my common practice.

>Forget Heidegger. Take Weisenburger.<

Take them both, please!

David Morris
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