MDDM "Another Slave-Colony"

[jbor]

Bandwraith at aol.com wrote:

>> Wasn't Mason the one who threatened to "kill" Wicks at Cape Town? (84)
> 
> Or so Wicks has Mason, in sotto, relating to Dixon, just after
> Cherrycoke wisfully suggests that the role of Eve might be more
> pleasurable than that of Adam, while fondling a ripe Mango...

I don't know how you get sotto voce out of the word "declares", or that
Wicks is suggesting that *the role* of Eve is more pleasurable. I'd say it's
more likely a lewd sexist remark than anything else, an attempt to
ingratiate himself as "one of the boys". I don't think Wicks is being
characterised as fey, certainly not as "cruising" Mason.

>> I'm still inclined to the view that it's Mason's self-absorption and
>> perception of his own pre-eminence in the partnership rather than greater
>> depth or degree of characterisation which is at work here...
> 
> Which would require a greater degree of characterization, no?

No, not necessarily.

> 
>> and that it's he
>> who presumes that he has more at stake, that what's happening to him is the
>> rightful focus of all attention, that all the perplexities and intrigue
>> revolve around his personal past and present circumstances and
>> relationships. 
> 
> Again, though, it is at least Wicks who is making these narrative choices,
> and apparently agreeing about, if not inventing, those aspects of Mason.

And Pynchon.

>> He is paranoid, solipsistic, backward-looking, introspective
>> - and deliberately characterised as such -
> 
> Right, and those aspects without further historical evidence
> are as fictional as Pointsman's pederasty- may have come off
> the same loom for that matter- although Chas is the more
> sympathetic.

As I've noted, extrapolation from available source material is quite a
different process to complete fictionalisation. Pointsman is a fabrication,
Mason is not.
 
>> where Dixon is more self-assured,
>> sensible, wryly observant. And, I think, more sensitive and caring towards
>> Chas (because of these traits) than Chas to he.
> 
> And I think it fair to say that Chas is the more responsible.

Which begs the question: to what, or whom? And anyway, Dixon's loyalty is a
form of responsibility, surely? There are numerous instances where Dixon
goes out of his way to assist or protect Mason. And in St Helena he offered
to repair Maskelyne's broken Plumb-line, which offer Mason refused.
(119-120) In fact, I think that it's Jere's almost miraculous skill as a
surveyor which is depicted as ensuring the duo's success and subsequent
appointment to the American assignment. The Jesuit, Maire, remarks that he
is "God's Instrument". (230)
 
snip

While I do disagree with your suggestions I've appreciated the opportunity
to put my own reading to the test - thanks.

best