MDDM Washington & Gershom

[jbor]

on 10/7/02 9:28 AM, Doug Millison at millison at online-journalist.com wrote:

> I see.  You mean that Gershom's slavery is liberty. Thanks for clearing
> that up.

No. I mean that, in the novel _Mason & Dixon_, Gershom is at complete
liberty to do what he likes and go where he pleases. His "nominal Master",
George Washington, has granted him this liberty.

> And if Gershom's master decided to sell his slave to somebody else, he
> wouldn't have the right to do that?

But he doesn't. 

> I
> assume that Pynchon knows what he's doing here and am content to base my
> reading on what he presents for us on the page without adding elements he
> chose not to add.

So, take it up with Pynchon.

best