MDMD (4) Denial of Mortality

[jbor]

> tommasopincio at iol.it wrote:
> 
> Obviously death is also to be metaphorically intended as manifestation of
> power, and control .  (cfr.: 7.5 "Herodotic Web of Adventures and Curiosities
> selected for their moral usefulness, whilst avoiding others not as suitable in
> the Hearing of Youth. The Youth, not being consulted in this.")

I had another thought when I read this. In Western democracies "Youth" is
not "consulted" about what's "suitable" for them at all, whereas in other
cultures, including Islamic culture, they are considered to be and treated
as adults from age 12. Thus, effectively, in the West all individuals in
that 12-18 age bracket are both voiceless and subjugated, and this, Pynchon
seems to imply, is not a particularly Good Thing.

Probably more relevant to _GR_ -- 'The Secret Integration' certainly -- but
obviously a constant preoccupation.

best