MDDM Ch. 70 Scalping Lord Lepton

[Richard Fiero]

Bandwraith at aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 8/20/02 6:54:53 AM, jbor at bigpond.com writes:
>
><< Although, and I think this is something you have 
>overlooked, consider Catfish's judgement:
>
>"... He was a very bad man. Even White People hated him." (681.1)
>
>So I don't think it's as simple as Native Indian = "good" such 
>that White Man = "bad" in Pynchon's text. Recall that giant 
>hemp tree, for example, and the way it  motivated a distinctly 
>capitalist type of greed and exploitation amongst the tribes (654-5). >>

My reading certainly differs here. This is great humor on the 
part of Catfish who is implying that "Whites are so bad that 
it's unthinkable that a White could hate someone for badness 
unless that person was supremely bad."
. . .
>I think it is "meant" to be Lepton's Scalp, as well, but that 
>could all be part of the staging, for the benefit of this 
>particular audience. The scalping has occurred off stage. Even 
>if it is Lepton's scalp,  meeting up with M&D  so soon after 
>the deed, so far west of Castle Lepton is, at least, "cute."

I don't believe that Pynchon is doing social darwinism here. Yes, it's theater.

>. . .
>Clearly, the symbolism of a five-sided star on the Cheek- 
>Piece of the paradigm of that day's lethality should not be 
>lost. This diminutive beginning echoes the first sentence of 
>the book: "Snow-balls have flown their Arcs..." Then- just a 
>well crafted flintlock, now- a Pentagon of unimaginable 
>destructive power. Mason's sixth sense is correct.

The five-sided star in my opinion is just a trinket. It has no 
symbolism or power other than what Mason invests in it. Mason 
is a true klutz here to admonish Catfish to "pry it out." This 
has to be the epitome of stupidity and is itself embarrassingly 
funny -- "'The sign on it has Evil Powers,' Mason warns. 'You 
should take a knife or something and pry it out.'"
Still chuckling over that one and apologies for my well-intentioned differences.