MDDM Washington & Gershom

[jbor]

Sam wrote:

> There is never, imo, an order from Washington given to Gershom.  Sure he
> asks him to do things, but Pynchon frames it in very familiar language... It
> strikes me as no different than the language between Mason and Dixon...  Not
> to mention Martha serves George and Gershom... and is very at home with this
> relationship... Gershom smokes with George... and company...  these are not
> things one expects in a normal master - slave relationship and why would
> Pynchon (or Cherrycoke) put it this way if we are supposed to come away with
> a feeling that George is a traditional slave owner?
> 
> Cherrycoke would never put George in a good light if he were oppressive...
> recall Cherrycoke's early crime of naming names of those crimes committed by
> the stronger against the weaker (opening chapter).
> 
> I am not suggesting Gershom is free, or that he can practice perfect freedom
> (who can)... but he certainly has a great deal of liberty.  Perhaps we
> should be discussing how J Wade LeSpark, Brae, Ethelmer, etc must be
> reacting to this?

It's a good thought, and while the excerpt from Wicks's _Spiritual Day-Book_
which opens Ch. 28 would perhaps mollify the adults, at least, in Wicks's
audience, it's not at all clear that he actually reads it aloud. In the
narrative proper GW's comments about "Pennsylvanians" and their prejudices
(276.15), and the way that he and Gersh put on the stereotypical
slave-master vaudeville act in order to give the lie to these prejudices,
seems to undercut Wicks's negative judgement about "these Virginians".

In other words, there seems to be a very marked disconnect between what
Wicks says in the Chapter motto, and the scene which the text presents.

> I'd say in light of the late war, Cherrycoke is bestowing
> virtues on Washington that may not be historically accurate...

Perhaps. Maybe Wicks's opinion of GW has changed, but I wonder where Wicks's
actual loyalties might have resided during that "late war" too. Maybe since
the war and his inauguration GW has become something of a national hero,
even up here in Pennsylvania?

The other thing to keep in mind is that Wicks wasn't present at Mt Vernon.
To me, great slabs of the narrative don't seem to be part of Wicks's
story-telling at all (eg. when 'Thelmer and 'Brae are reading 'The Ghastly
Fop' instalment together in the bedroom in Ch. 54, pp. 526-59, this seems to
be made explicit.)

best

> but here they
> are anyway and Gersh is treated as a near equal and a friend.
> 
> in my opinion,