VV(18): Theatre de Vincent Castor

[Dave Monroe]

"'We have the Theatre de Vincent Castor,' cried
Satin." (V., Ch. 14, Sec. i, p. 396)

Not, from what I can discover, an actual Parisian
theater at any given time (n.b.: Le scare du printmeps
was first performed at the Theatre des Champs
Elysees).  Which makes sense.  Despite the attention
to historical detail at the outset of the chapter
(trais stations, street names, statuary), the closer
we get to Pynchon's parody here ... but always that
uncertainty ...

Tim Ware's Hyperarts Pynchon Pages, however, note that
"'castor' in Latin means 'beaver'" ...

http://www.hyperarts.com/pynchon/v/t.html

And "Vincent," from the Latin "vincens," means
"conquering," so ... well, given Melanie's grisly
onstage demise, her "climax" (p. 414) ...

Theater + conquering + beaver = very nasty joke ...

And do note here not only the "fur-trimmed" slit in
Melanie's Su Feng "underskirt" (p. 397), but also the
"black-rimmed holes" "The lady" (V. [?]) burns in said
(?) skirt (p. 403) ...





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