VV(13): Enters Weismann

[jbor]

----------
>From: Michel Ryckx <michel.ryckx at freebel.net>

> (61.10-12)
> 'V. ambiguously a beast of venery, chased like the hart, hind or hare, chased
like
> an obsolete, or bizarre, or forbidden form of sexual delight.'
>
> Seems like Vera Meroving to me.

Actually, it's Stencil's "same, simple-minded, literal pursuit" which is
referenced at that point in the text, so it would apply just as well to all
the V-manifestations I think.

> Being aware of the problems arising
> when trying to establish a connection between V.'s Weissmann and Gravity's
> Rainbow's Weissmann/Blicero,

I think they are explicitly connected. I'm interested in two things: 1) Is
the characterisation of Lieutenant Weissmann in _V._ compatible with the
characterisation of the same character in _GR_? (I believe there are
significant differences: even in terms of biographical details, dates etc);
and 2) Why did Pynchon choose to "flesh out" this character -- and not
others -- to such a degree in the later novel?

> In the passages we meet him in V., one could concentrate on Mondaugen
> seeing everything through a mirror.  On the other hand, there's no mention of
a
> mirror  -or another filtre through which Mondaugen perceives-- when Mondaugen
and
> Vera meet, and Meroving is being 'pulled by the hand' by Weissmann (237.19).

Yes, but there's no hint of pain here. I get the impression that Weissmann
has been spying and is worried that Vera is about to betray some secret to
Kurt, not that there is one, but Weissmann is generally quite deranged and
neurotic throughout the whole sequence, almost a comic character, always
engaged in some crazy clandestine activity. Later, as the "piqued
lieutenant", he lunges out from behind a stalagmite in a "decorative grotto"
to accuse Mondaugen of sending coded messages to some English spy "at
Upington", and then counter-accuses him of receiving coded messages from the
English, and then wants to play at decoding Kurt's sferics (251-252). In
this scene he comes across as stereotypically foolish: his glasses fog up,
he makes absurd and contradictory accusations, and then is "almost
childlike" in his eagerness to actually be able to *do* something for Kurt.

best