MDDM Ch. 32 Summary, Notes

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In a message dated 2/3/02 5:17:06 AM, jbor at bigpond.com writes:

<< Wicks analyses and contrasts the purposes of the foregoing "Tales", which 
he

appears now to be ascribing to either Mason or Dixon. He then relates a tale

seemingly told directly to him by Dixon, about the perpetual motion watch

that Emerson gave his protege as a memento before the latter's departure for

America. >>

This is a fun tale, but before it is dissected and devoured by the 
list for all it's nutritional (and literary) value, it might be worth a 
femtosecond to compare it for quality and style of narration with the
tale Mason spun, extemporaneously and under duress, at The George
[beginning 192.23]. Really quite interesting to note how meticulously
and well Pynchon/Wicks is able to maintain the separate characterizations,
even up to and including their tale-spinning. The class difference is
one immediately striking element. The Munchausen-like flavor of both
tales, however, keeps us aware, if ever so slightly, of the fine hand
of Wicks.