Badasses

[jbor]

Yes, even the outlaw analogy in the _Stone Junction_ intro Otto quoted from
creates problems: Rob Roy and Jesse James aren't your typical "heroes". I'm
not sure how much "karmic readjustment" these two did manage (or intend?) to
achieve in their actual careers of plundering and murderousness, and I'm not
really sure you could say that Rob Roy was in fact a member of the
"preterite" either (freebooter, landowner, blackmailer, in cahoots with the
Duke of Argyll ... ) But, to go back to the 'Luddite' essay, the very first
distinction Pynchon makes in his construction of the Badass "identity" is
between Ned Ludd the man (about whom very little is known) and the legend of
King Ludd which the Luddites invoked. Likewise, I think that with Rob Roy
you've got ready-made legendary status in Scott's novel; and with James (and
Dillinger) the urban myths and Hollywoodisations have certainly been
widespread enough. And, that "fictional" creations such as Shelley's
Monster, Walpole's Alfonso and King Kong score a cap as well makes me think
that Pynchon *is* in fact talking about a "mythical" identity rather than
historical personages and their acts. That someone or something so
ostensibly "terrible" or "mad" or "evil" becomes a popular hero seems to be
a *process* which Pynchon is interested in. And so, more and more this
proposition that Weissmann/Blicero falls into the category, and that Pynchon
did indeed *intend* him to fall into the category, becomes a credible one.

Oakley Hall's _Warlock_ might provide another point of departure. Some of
the "outlaws" are perhaps eligible for Badass status (Abe McQuown, say), or
are perceived by some segments of the population as "good" outlaws/Badasses
at various times, and then again even someone like Clay Blaisedell might
qualify even though he is the (mercenary) Marshall of the town, but both of
their Badass-quotients tends to wax and wane while they're in Warlocck
territory. It's not until the death of the one, and the departure of the
other, that the legendary status of either one begins to become fixed.

I think that the ultimate Badass might be the Christian God, the One of the
Old Testament (the wrathful, vengeful one, as Homer might say.)

best

----------
>From: "Scott Badger" <lupine at ncia.net>
>

> Mostly what I've been trying to point out is that I'm having a hard time
> getting a good grip on this Badass thing.  Every definition seems to lead to
> some unlikely inclusion.  Even Dillinger...the myth may be compelling, but
> was the *man* responsible for any real "karmic readjustment"...? Or, like
> most of the others in the Whole Badass Crew, is *mythical* a necessary
> qualification?