V.V.(9) Victoria

[jbor]

> Already our candidate for V. identifies herself with those
> who attend Black Masses in Paris (which will be important later in
> the book) and those who are mistresses of high-ranking clergy.

No, the narrative does this I think (NB the passive voice of "It is easy
enough to see where such an attitude might lead ... " at 167.27), and
continues Pynchon's emphasis on the abuses to which "faith in God" has been
and is put (as Eric has concisely catalogued w/r/t _GR_ -- btw apologies for
offlist mail sent to the list: not sure why that happened but I certainly
appear to have 'pulled a Millison' as it were!)

Victoria's brand of Roman Catholicism is just another version or example (or
symptom) of those self-serving constructs of religious piety and devotion,
self-justifications (for attitude, behaviour, consequences etc) after the
event, which abound in P's narratives.

> Judas tree

I have often wondered at its significance (it ends the chapter in fact). Who
has betrayed, or been betrayed, by whom, I wonder? (I'd say Victoria Wren's
-- "V's" -- "guilt" in this respect looms large even here, but perhaps this
issue can be left to the next V.V. section?)

best

(ps Thanks again for all your quite exceptional work on these sections.)

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>From: Michael Perez <studiovheissu at yahoo.com>