V.V.(9) Vheissu

[David Morris]

>From: "jbor" The (arrogant) falsity of the binary opposition (i.e. 
>civilised v. primitive) is what is revealed in Vheissu to Pynchon's 
>narrator, Godolphin (and thus to us by Pynchon?), and this is precisely 
>what he is so distressed by. The Vheissuvians are in fact always *one step 
>ahead* of Godolphin (and "Western civilisation"), culturally, 
>intellectually, in their relationship to the environment et. al., and this 
>is what is so terrifying to old Hugh.

I don't think this equation fits the text.  What Hugh specifically notes as 
the source of his dread and horror was a lack, an absence.  The Vheissuvians 
do SEEM "ahead of us" in the classic model of Shang Gri La.  What we expect 
Hugh to discover is an unsullied purity in them to match their outward 
radiance.  He doesn't find that, nor does he find superiority.  He finds 
them as venal as anyone, and maybe even more so because of the ABSENCE he 
finds.

More later,
David Morris
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