MDDM Strange symbiosis? (Re: Gershom & the LED

[jbor]

on 19/1/02 3:51 PM, Bandwraith at aol.com at Bandwraith at aol.com wrote:

> "Each of Gershom's "Joax" underlines the mutual co-dependence
> of The King and his Fool. Perhaps The Fool is a stand-in for "the
> masses", the co-dependence with the king forming the basis of
> social morality.

And, thus, there is the "co-dependence" of "Slave-and-Master" as well. But I
think one of Gershom's points might well be that there are always
differences in the way that social authority is articulated. In individual
instances, such as in the court of a benevolent despot, or in his own
situation in Washington's household, it ain't all bad for the priveleged
subordinate. In fact, it's quite a luxury ride. In other words, there are
good-humoured kings, just as there are good-humoured masters, like George.

I think another obvious connection in the Joaks is with King Lear's Fool.

In the novel there are many examples of underlings who are required to "sing
for their supper", as it were, who need to "perform" in order to establish
their credibility and maintain a comfortable place within the society they
are compelled to inhabit: Gershom here, the LED, but Wicks and Austra too,
and also M & D themselves. And, of course, Pynchon. The thing is, in almost
every instance and situation the supposed inferior is actually set up as
cleverer and more perceptive than the proprietors whom she or he ostensibly
serves, or entertains (the tales are told primarily from within these
characters' points of view as well), and a large part of the performance is
always the subordinates' capacity to cast a satiric eye on the follies and
foibles of their masters.

best