MDDM Washington, slavery, a mixed bag

[Doug Millison]

Reading M&D and looking at the Washington of history, it's safe to say that
Pynchon presents a character approaching the  complexity and richness of
the man himself.  P complicates things mightily with his allusions to
popular culture representations of African Americans.  He seems to have
oscillated between benevolence and  cruelty (he had female slaves
whipped!).   He maintained the master-slave relationship until his death,
and in my mind that makes it impossible that he considered them equals.
Others may disagree.  It's a complex picture that Pynchon presents, capable
of sustaining many interpretations.