MDDM Ch. 70 Tim Tox and the Golem

[Otto]

----- Original Message -----
From: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 11:34 PM
Subject: Re: MDDM Ch. 70 Tim Tox and the Golem


> Otto wrote:
>
> > Agreed, what do you think the possible defenestration Mason mentions
> > (685.17) alludes to? Prague 1618?
>
> Quite possible, although the Golem and 'The Rabbi of Prague' seem to refer
> to a different, though nearly contemporary story from European Jewish
> history. But Immanuel Ice did refer to the Peace of Westphalia (1648)
which
> ended the Thirty Years War, and which the Defenestration at Prague
heralded.
>
> Also, there's a reference to "the Defenestration of the Clothiers in '56"
> (198.3) at Stroud, mentioned again at 503.17-8. (Not to mention Zoyd in
> _Vineland_.)
>
> Pynchon really seems to enjoy a good defenestration!
>
> bvest
>

People get hanged, defenestrated, burned publicly (witches & the
Rosenbergs), drowned & whatever -- but mostly not for the reasons the
(history-) books tell us about, but for other reasons hidden behind what is
being told to make a poor guy willing to give his life and what is told
later generations -- like the history books that have told us the Thirty
Years War has been a religious war or the Civil War has been fought to
abolish slavery.

In Dutch history-books the Thirty Years War is only the "official" part of
the Eighty Years War, but not as they claimed fought for religious &
political freedom by the Provinces but for the freedom to make money without
being taxed by some stupid sovereign far away. Same seems to be the case
with the American Revolution and George III just as dumb as Phillip II.

If I'm not mistaken there's a line somewhere in GR that the real reason for
the war (and I assume every war) is buying and selling.

Not to forget that the story of Mason & Dixon is told by Wicks in the house
of the "Merchant of Purposeful Explosion" (105.15) who "made his Fortune
years before the War, selling weapons" (31.3) to everyone who can pay the
price.

It's good that novels have more freedom to tell another truth behind the
disguise of an unreliable, even mad narrator. To play the King's Fool isn't
the worst strategy to get your story through.

Otto

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