VV(13): Enters Weismann

[David Morris]

I think jbor's characterization of W. below is accurate.  W. seems a 
slightly-deranged comic boob which is distinctly at odds with his character 
in GR.  In V. he's only a sideshow, not central, so the development in GR 
really makes him another character entirely with only the incidentals for 
continuity.

I think the more consistent character between the two books is Pig Bodine.  
And the "why" of this could be a ripe topic. I think is in part because he 
is more of a function or type that an actual character, if that makes sense.

DM

>From: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
> >From: Michel Ryckx <michel.ryckx at freebel.net>
>
> > 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?
>
>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.
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