MDDM Ch. 66 Snake, the dog

[Paul Mackin]

Unfortunately I couldn't make the url come up. Pynchon seems to be good with
dogs and here puts them to interesting use. The mention of dogs allows Dixon
to comment on Mason's gloomy mood brought about by the scarcity of grape
beverages. The bystander takes "Black Dog" (meaning extreme despondency)  to
be a real local animal (it isn't, is it, by any chance) opening up a
discourse on the proper behavior of dogs ("wolf's commandment") and I guess
human behavior as well.  It's slightly ironic that with regard to obtaining
food direct killing is more ethical than cowardly jackal-like hanging around
waiting for the lion's leftovers. And, is there some theory that the "social
contract" (the human one) is based upon the circumstance  of some grevious
sin having been shamefully participated in by the entire group? And finally
there's the lesson of Fang--how voluntary cooperation with the dominant
group results in  exploitation. All neatly pulled off.

P.

jbor wrote:

> 643.12 ...Dogs run free, feel hungry and accordingly impatient, often get
> together in packs, and hunt.
>
> http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/26/1027497411106.html
>
> 643-5 the Jackal within ... sharing a Sin ... his own Power of Speech ...
> Fang's true Story (?)
>
> best