Pynchon's Badass

[David Morris]

>From: Eric Rosenbloom <ericr at sadlier.com>
>"Choosing victimization" is perhaps better stated in this context as 
>"choosing martyrdom," that is, in principle, however vague, refusing to 
>live by The Man's terms

But the other aspect of the "Badass" is what links him to Blicero: the 
Mutant, the Monster, the Repressed.  Blicero is a Mutant, a product of the 
Death System.  He is its prophet.  They did not consciously produce him.  He 
too overtly expresses their nature.  His goal is an END to the cycle of 
death, to transcend and cross over.  He doesn't want to glorify or proclaim 
the realm which already IS, the death cycle.  Why should he?  He wants to go 
BEYOND.  He wants to end the death cycle.  This is what makes him heroic.

David Morris
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