MDDM Gershom's Intervention

[Michel Ryckx]

I'm a bit surprised that jbor, who constantly wonders 'who is talking, narrating,
. . .' -an excellent question when reading a mr. Pynchon novel-; and fairly often
remains inconclusive about it -we have been witnessing that during GRGR, VV and
this MDMD-, is now so certain about who is talking.  What makes you so sure this
time, Rob?  I agree with Paul your proposition remains debatable.

"Civility, Sir! The word you have employ'd, here in this quiet Pool of Reason, is
a very Shark, which ever feels its Lunch-Hour nigh."

I read it this way: the speaker says that when in a civilised company, one does
not utter the N-word.  It is, after all, a 'quiet pool of reason' -nice word play
on 'pool', by the way.  He is not condemning in a general way; it is that when
playing billiard, one does not discuss such things.  The speaker also admits that
it remains in the background, but wants to keep on popping up during
conversations:  a hungry shark does everything to get to his prey. (does this
imply it was a political issue forcing itself into the focus of the future
republic?)

Paul:

> [snip]
> Finally, Gershom MUST be the utterer of the "do I hear that word again"
> sentence, because GW recognizes the voice.
> [snip]
> IMHO. of course :-)
>
> P.

Well, is it Gershom? Nobody notices him: 'For the rest of the evening, ev'ryone
suspects ev'ryone else of being Gershom.' (573.10-11)
And Mason: "Baby-Phiz Nathe McClean, or I'm a sailor.' (573.15-16)

Just another opinion, of course.

Michel.