VV(7) - 1

[Michael Perez]

David Morris wrote:
"Zeitsuss might be proud, but he's no hero, just a Schlemiel."

True, "hero" is one of those words that gets applied in a lot of
circumstances where it is far too strong.  Then again, _Ulysses_ was
above all a celebration of the heroism of the common man and literature
hasn't been the same since.  In this case, Zeitsuss has an amplified
opinion of the importance of his duty.  The patrol members know this
and his little inspirational speeches are not taken seriously, but they
don't ridicule him, at least to his face.  We all know people like
this.  Some are more annoying than others.  Tasks become missions, jobs
become callings.  Through it all, those around them have no idea why
what they're doing can be thought to be so heroic.  There's a lot of
this in _V._, of course, the Street vs Hothouse.  The schlemiels are
many times more successful or useful than the crusaders.  Benny's
compassion for his prey harkens back to the original nobility of the
hunt - in this instance also exaggerated.  This goes for Fairing, too. 
Hunting cultures had a certain reverence for their prey because their
continued existence depended upon their prey animals.  The alligators
or rats are not subsistence prey (despite Fairing's culinary
experiments) and most people don't realize the "heroes" of the patrol
even exist.  No one but those who read Fairing's writings know of his
efforts.

Michael

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