neither paranoid nor dispossessed

[Paul Mackin]

----- Original Message -----
From: <calbert at hslboxmaster.com>

> " and the disinherited position meaning he feels he's been deprived of
some god given right to be among the movers and shakers of America. Both are
more insults to our man than anything else.
>
> I may just not be getting it. Haven't had time to read much p-list
lately."
>
> Reasonable objection... I would suggest however, that Pynchon, during
hours, perhaps, days, of discomfort induced by his aching, ugly teeth, MIGHT
have reflected on the difference a healthy Pynchon & Co. might have made in
his life.....We don't need to apply it as a personal pathology to appreciate
that it might also, to some degree, inform his interest in the concept of
disinheritance....and there is that further issue of him having to crank out
COL 49 for the money.......

This kind of dissatisfaction as a factor in character formation and his
writing's emphasis on loosers and the down-and-out is not hard to credit
though relating it too closely with a perceived loss of family status rather
than the failure of a still solidly middle class family to do something
within it current means about young P's dental probem as well as providing
other financial support makes me hesitant--for what I fear it might
imply--but perhaps I'm being overly squeamish. Yes, I really think I am.
Character and writing style formation may be a bit like proverbial sausage
making.

      P.