re Re: NP? somebody has to slay it

[John Bailey]

I agree, for the most part, with this post, though not unconditionally 
so...I'm not sure on Washington's portrayal, I'm really not, and as for 
Jefferson he's almost a footnote but, comparing their inclusion to 
Franklin's as you've done, they certainly don't have that same sinister air. 
This could, just maybe, be something to do with the different themes which 
cluster around these figures, and Pynchon's respective attitudes towards 
those themes. Franklin, I'd think, is very much tied to Technology, 
mysticism, erudition, and Washington to Politics, an earthy sense of humour, 
etc. I'm not setting up an opposition between Technology and Politics 
(though I am capitalising them for some reason), however they do both figure 
highly in Pynchon's novels and I've nothing further to add just now.

>From: jbor <jbor at bigpond.com>
>To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: Re: re Re: NP? somebody has to say it
>Date: Fri, 21 Jun 2002 14:25:35 +1100
>
>I actually think that the depiction of George Washington in _M&D_ is quite 
>a
>positive one: he's reasonable, good-humoured, intelligent, and a very
>gracious host who is sensitive to the feelings of his guests; he's quite
>benevolent and progressive, in his attitudes towards slavery and pot, for
>example; and the scene on the porch where he, Gershom, and Martha entertain
>the boys is quite charming. Back in that earlier chapter we see that 
>Gershom
>is given the run of the house and facilities, and that he is treated as an
>equal both in the general household routine and in discourse. George never
>tells him to "shut his fucking mouth" or calls him a "drool-flecked 
>baboon",
>for example, which *would* be pretty reprehensible of him, wouldn't it 
>just.
>
>In Ch. 58 we discover that Gershom has been emancipated, or at least we are
>being reminded that he is allowed to roam free around the town (we found 
>out
>earlier that he goes on tour with his comic impressions and King-Joaks I
>think); and as well as regarding and treating his "Titable" as a friend,
>George is pretty affable and protective towards Mason also, especially
>considering the temper of the times.
>
>I don't think there was anything particularly scathing in the brief
>portrayal of Tho. Jefferson either, but Ben Franklin's presence has been
>more malevolent, I agree, and even when his name is mentioned there seems 
>to
>be a negative edge.
>
>best
>
>
>on 21/6/02 11:17 AM, Doug Millison at millison at online-journalist.com wrote:
>
> > How much "respect" does Pynchon show the future Pres. Geo. Washington in
> > M&D?  That novel comes down pretty hard on the Founding Fathers in 
>general
> > (Franklin gets the treatment, too)




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