VV(9) - Evan & Hugh

[David Morris]

I completely agree, but our focus is different.  These are Stencil's 
stories, but this time they are oral, told to a psychiadent.  Even though 
Eigenvalue interrupts midstream, lest we forget to be skeptical, there is no 
doubt that the story we read is far beyond the spoken medium.  This is a 
cinematic trick as well: the narrator begins to speak and we fade to a 
dramatic scene.  In between the narrator and the film scene is a director, a 
script, and a cast of actors.  Of course Pynchon is demonstrating the 
multiple levels of uncertainty in narrative.  But to stop there is to 
discount any further value in the text, any message beyond uncertainty.

I propose that one might read with a suspended disbelief, and thus recieve a 
message which might otherwise be filtered out.  Uncertainty might still 
remain, but it could be tolerated.

David Morris

>From: Michael Perez
>>David wrote:
>>"But Evan's yearnings for that missing 'something which should have 
>>existed, but did not,' is enough to overcome his 'heart's vagrancy.' Evan 
>>is truly searching for the bonds of _relationship_, the lack of which is 
>>the root of his determined rebellion.  The implication here is that Evan's 
>>determined vagrancy is born of an anger, an injury, usually called 
>>rejection:  a need un-met: that of a loving father (and his mother never 
>>mentioned).  This need is 'catholic.'
>>
>>"Is this all Stencil's need?  Maybe.  But for me the message is more 
>>important than the messenger.  FORGET REALITY!!!  Reality in this text is 
>>unattainable, but the message survives.
>
>Yes, but it is Stencil's message.  We hear of Evan only through Stencil 
>and, yes, this "searching for the bonds of _relationship_" is Stencil's 
>need.  The way Stencil relates Evans exploits is the way Stencil wants to 
>be remembered with regard to his belated loyalty to his father's legacy.  
>The intrigue he tracks down has already run its course.  The history he 
>tracks down is incomplete as all history is.  Part of what Stencil allows 
>us to realize is that reality related in the form of history is 
>"unattainable," as you say.
>
>Michael
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