re RE: SLSL "TSR" - climax, anti-climax

[pynchonoid]

somebody
>If P were to do a wall-to-wall rewrite of this story
>I
>think MMS Pinafore would be tossed in the dumpster.

I wonder if Pynchon would throw it out.  The plot of
the operetta turns on class distinctions, after all,
an element of "TSR" that Pynchon says, in the Intro,
he likes, and it takes place in a military setting.
It's not just layered on top of the story either, but
integrated at the plot and character levels,  plays a
significant role in the story's climax. It might be
argued that Pynchon doesn't pull it off as skillfully
or elegantly or seamlessly or whatever-ly as he might
have done, but I haven't seen that demonstrated yet. 
_H.M.S. Pinafore_ is not part of what Pynchon
discounts as something he layered on to "make it
literary" -- that would be "a whole extra overlay of
rain images and references to "The Waste Land" and _A
Farewell to Arms_.  

More generally, in the stories and novels he goes on
to write after "TSR"  Pynchon has shown no signs of
abandoning the practice of developing complex webs of
references and allusions to other works of art, which
leads me to agree with s~Z, that Pynchon speaks with
tongue in cheek in the Intro, at least regarding this
aspect of "TSR".


http://www.umgass.org/shows/pinafore/argument2.html

" H.M.S. Pinafore
The Argument
Some time before Act I opens, Ralph has fallen in love
with Josephine, the daughter of his commanding
officer, Captain Corcoran. Class pride, however,
stands in the way of the natural inclinations of
Josephine to reciprocate Ralph's affections. Little
Buttercup, a buxom peddler-woman, has fallen in love
with the Captain himself. The Captain, however, is
hesitant to yield to his affections until his daughter
is happy (or at least married) herself. The Captain
has, in fact, been arranging ‹ a marriage between his
daughter and Sir Joseph Porter, First Lord of the
Admiralty, KCB, who is of the social class above even
the Corcorans. When Act I opens, the sailors are
merrily preparing the ship for Sir Joseph's
inspection. 

The generally happy atmosphere on deck is marred only
by Little Buttercup's hints of a dark secret she is
hiding, by the misanthropic grumbling of Dick Deadeye,
and by the love-lorn plaints of Ralph and Josephine.
Sir Joseph appears, attended by a train of ladies (his
relatives, who always follow him wherever he goes). He
explains how he became Lord of the Admiralty and
examines the crew, patronizingly ‹ encouraging them to
feel that they are everyone's equal, except his. Like
the Captain, he is very punctilious, demanding polite
diction among the sailors at all times. Josephine
finds him insufferable; and, when Ralph again pleads
his suit and finally threatens suicide, she agrees to
elope. The act ends with the general rejoicing of the
sailors at Ralph's success; only Dick Deadeye croaks
his warning that their hopes will be frustrated. 

Act II opens with the Captain in despair at the
demoralization of his crew and the coldness of his
daughter towards Sir Joseph. Little Buttercup tries to
comfort him, and prophesies a change in store. But Sir
Joseph soon appears and tells the Captain that
Josephine has thoroughly discouraged him in his suit;
he wishes to call the match off. The Captain suggests
that perhaps his daughter feels herself inferior in
social rank to Sir Joseph, and urges him to assure her
that inequality of social rank should not be
considered a barrier to marriage. This Sir Joseph
does, not realizing that his words are as applicable
to Josephine in relation to Ralph as they are to
himself in relation to Josephine. He thinks that she
accepts him, whereas actually she is reaffirming her
acceptance of Ralph; and they all join in a happy
song. 

Meanwhile, Dick Deadeye has made his way to the
Captain, and informs him of the planned elopement of
his daughter with Ralph. The Captain thereupon
intercepts the elopers; and, when he learns that
Josephine was actually running away to marry Ralph, he
is so incensed that he cries, "Damme!" Unfortunately,
Sir Joseph and his relatives hear him and are
horrified at his swearing; Sir Joseph sends him to his
cabin in disgrace. But when Sir Joseph also learns
from Ralph that Josephine was eloping, he angrily
orders Ralph put in irons. 

Little Buttercup now comes out with her secret, which
solves the whole difficulty. The secret removes Sir
Joseph as a suitor for Josephine's hand and permits
her to marry Ralph. Captain Corcoran, inspired by
once-forbidden lovers united, is now free to yield to
his affections for Buttercup. Sir Joseph resigns
himself to marrying his cousin, Hebe. "


... wonder if that Lord of the Admiralty might be the
"general" the offstage presence who hovers near, seems
always on the way but never quite shows up in "TSR"...

-Doug





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