V.V. (12) "a tiny European Conclave or League of Nations"

[jbor]

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>From: "David Morris" <fqmorris at hotmail.com>
>

> A.1:  The Siege Party bears strong resemblance to the Casino Party and to
> the Anubis Party.  They are all parties of the European "Haves."  All happen
> in priviledged enclaves.

Yes I agree, and I think that there might be a correlation with the WSC and
their parties also.

> I'd say the significant aspect of this party is
> its proximity to the action which here overtly ridicules the hopes of the
> indigenous rebels.

The story of Abraham Morris and his followers (213.17 and passim) which is
threaded through the chapter is quite a poignant and tragic tale. (And,
unlike Conrad's _HoD_ at least, these Africans are given names, if not quite
fully realised as characters as Enzian is in _GR_.) I'm assuming that this
thread is part of what Pynchon picked up from his source materials, and that
names, dates, locations etc relating to the trek and rebellion are accurate.

> But all of these parties overtly ridicule the sufferings
> of those on the outside.

Yes they do, but it's also a sort of "to hell with our own future" attitude
as well. Rather than flee or try to resist the uprising these people are
gonna party like there's no tomorrow, in full realisation that there might
not be a tomorrow. It is very much the same type of decadence as aboard the
Anubis in _GR_, the doomed "ship of fools".

best