Dixon's steadfast spirits

[Terrance]

That's quite another matter. Isn't it? 
In fact, this is the position taken by Mason who wavers all over the
lot. 

Mason complains that Dixon indulges too much and that in doing so lacks
a moral backbone. Mason will even go so far as to say something like, 

"but you are a Quaker and you're not supposed to do this or that." 

 But Mason is talking about  how he thinks a Quakers should act. But
this backbone argument doesn't go to Dixon's spiritual convictions, but
only to some christian code of conduct or English moral backbone. ANd
Mason, even as he preaches this sermon, indulges in pleasures far more
sinful and attempts to rationalize these sins. 

The current talk about visited from another planet folds back to Mason's
rationalizing the slave labor he enjoys at the cape. He tells an
outraged Dixon that he imagines this land another planet and so on.....

Dixon's reply, 

"A bodily Part too often indistinguish'd from a Ram-Rod up the Arse." 

And

"It abides,--it is we who are ever recall'd from it, to tend to our
various mortal Requirements....? 

"Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the
sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide
with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under
the sun. 

Ecclesiastes 8:15. ... 





Doug Millison wrote:
> 
> You may be right.  I'd be surprised, however, if Dixon
> doesn't wobble from time to time, given the amount of
> alcohol and other substances he consumes in M&D.
> 
> Mr T:
> > I think it makes sense that P needs an unwavering
> > character of such
> > humor/humor and spirit in this novel.
> > Dixon, I think, is such a character.
> 
> =====
> <www.pynchonoid.blogspot.com>
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