MDDM Ch. 70 Scalping Lord Lepton

[Doug Millison]

>a giant hemp plant

...in a Line with references to marijuana (and its derivatives) in
Pynchon's previous works, M&D's Vineland pointing back to the novel of that
name, the marijuana trade and US government sending its ex-Nazi Bopp in to
eradicate with the CAMP program. In this context (that of Pynchon's
previous works), it seems, imo, reasonable to see the giant hemp plant as a
pointer to the marijuana trade, what that says about entrepreneurship in
this early American period, and how, in the 20th century, the government
will be directly involved in helping particular drug dealers/entrepreneurs
prevail over others.... not to exclude other possible readings, of course,
Terrance's (given P's past use of the Tree, seems reasonable to see the
Tree and its mythical-religious aspects in play in M&D, too), and many
more.  Both/and, not either/or, imo, plenty of room in this big,
over-determined,small-c catholic tent.



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