GR: A (Very) Newbie writes...

[Mark David Tristan Brenchley]

Here's some things I scribbled down after reading GR:

Parabola (cf. description of underground missile site) = open planes
formed by intersection of cone with a plane parallel to its side,
resembling the path of a projectile under gravity
	from gk para - beyond, and bola - throw or, throw beyond,
transcend.

	therefore a rainbow is a parabola, but due to effects of gravity
the rainbow never transcends but encircles the earth. However, because the
rainbow is now circular it beats gravity. cyclical, therefore
transcendental. This is because a circle has no beginning and is therefore
outside of time and space.
	If anyone doubts the circular nature of the book, the sound that
you hear at the start is the rocket fired at the end.

You might want to read The Duino Elegies by Rilke for the sort of
spirituality that Pynchon is going on about. I'd read them anyway, they're
beautiful. It explains in part the sighting of the angel

	- Paraboloid (of revolution) = solid generated by the rotation of
a parabola towards its axis of symmetry, a 2d solid having two or more
non-parallel parabolic cross-sectons, (think of a circle dut into
four-quarters by two lines). This is none other than the back of the
rocket (as well as being a mandala, a visual correlate of the zone), which
is self-generating (Berling being the only georaphical mandala, I would
suggest its the only place the rocket can be found).

	- Shit = decay vs. the pure white enamel of the toilet (cf.
Blicero). Rocket as a means to unit these disparate elements.
	Other divisions that the rocket transcends: male/female; four
elements; preterite/elect; N/S/E/W; sex/death/love. All inextricable in
themselves, therefore must be transcended.
	the rocket, incidentally, can be interpreted by all believers
(manichians/Kabbalists), only because it is actually none of these things,
exisiting as a focus.
	Alchemy also plays a part: shit turns to gold when mixed with
white (what, though is the prima materia?!!), to create a Philosopher's
gall (my bad joke, sorry) stone. Tyrone is the launchcode.
	

	-songs as mantra - "infected with the fondness out there for
mindless pleasures", which are often incorporated into the body of text.

	- Character of Enzian = shit, vs Blicero-death (white, sterile),
from the North (the place where man begins)
	Enzian poss. play on Enzyme, catalyst for specific BIOLOGICAL
action. In which case the rocket is built biologically.
	also, FR. Ensign, meaning flag-bearer

	-there is also an interplay between light and darkness (a Joycean
darkness in the light perhaps?). The Angel is white, simbolising love and
death (as does Blicero); white boat (cf Heart of Darkness, Apocalpyse
Now) as whited sepulchre.

	-Tyrone Slothrop
		Tyrone comes from Med. L for Recruit, beginner (initiate)
		Rone is a gutter for carrying rain off roof, 


Some of thi is wrong, but it  no longer matters. Hope some of this helps.
I'm off to looke for a flat.
Mark