mddm (2): why does mason enjoy the hangings?

[Jasper Fidget]

I recall reading that many gallows had walled-in lower halves for this
reason--to protect the delicate sensibilities of the attending ladies while
they watched the executions.  Irony intended.

Jasper Fidget

----- Original Message -----
From: "lorentzen-nicklaus" <lorentzen-nicklaus at t-online.de>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 5:12 AM
Subject: mddm (2): why does mason enjoy the hangings?


> ... because they help him to cope with his wife's death; he's still
dwelling in
> the border region between life and death. has to observe the transition
again
> and again ... makes him understand ... somehow ... there's an aspect of
the
> hanging motif which got, more than once, evoked by w.s. burroughs (and
then
> taken up for german literature by rolf dieter brinkmann): when the neck
breaks,
> there's a final quick errection with following strong ejaculation. its
drops on
> the ground, the hill of hanging, give offspring to the magical plant
mandrake
> ~~~
>
>