V.V. 3--McClintic Sphere and Inanimateness

[Thomas Eckhardt]

"Black ivory"... Very interesting. Hadn't heard this expression before. The
passage certainly is a heartfelt tribute, and I guess it could be read as just
an naturalistic description. But on the other hand Terrance's reading of the
passage in terms of the imagery/symbolism of V. is very interesting: Sphere's
music seems indeed related to the relentless blowing of the inanimate wind, and
the whiteness of the ivory appears to be the emblematic colour of inanimateness
in this novel. Thus, as you yourself brilliantly demonstrate when you emphasize
the possible correspondences between the horn and Eigenvalue's and Schoenmaker's
respective professions, the ivory sax seems to be related to the imagery of
inanimateness. And, as Terrance's posts made clear, there is the need to
reconcile this - perhaps - negative symbolic aspect of the narrator's
description of Sphere with the positive opinion most of us have about this
character. Thanks.

Thomas