Thank Goodness

[Otto]

----- Original Message -----
From: "tyro tortoise" <tyrotortoise at yahoo.com>
To: "Cyrus" <CyrusGeo at netscape.net>; "s~Z" <keithsz at concentric.net>;
<pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 3:11 PM
Subject: Re: Thank Goodness


>
> If Pynchon is a literary genius why can't he write an
> essay that communicates? While speaking of
> communication, it seems that Pynchon has forgotten
> that communicating clearly with others is the ultimate
> goal of composition. The Introduction is poorly
> written.
>
> For example, the paragraph at the top of page 12
> starts off talking about class and racial differences
> and ends with an apology for the offensive language in
> one of the stories. That's bad writing.
>

The paragraph in question already starts on 11.23, is about careless speech
and ends with an honestly meant apology for that. Why is this bad writing,
what's your problem with it?

>
> It's impossible to say what Pynchon means when he
> says,
>
> "It may yet turn out..." SL 12.1
>
> Perhaps he means to suggest that among historians and
> others (i.e., feminists, linguists) there is some sort
> of reappraisal taking place in response to debates
> about the changing composition and politics of the
> working class in modern capitalist societies.
>

Divide et impera (Ludwig XI):

"It may yet turn out that racial differences (...) have served a useful
purpose (...) in keeping us divided and so relatively poor and powerless."

This hasn't changed in the course of the centuries.

> These debates were quite vigorous at the time (1980s).
> But I don't know what Pynchon is trying to
> communicate.
>

>
> The Introduction is a scrambled mess. When Pynchon
> sticks to his subject (these stories) he communicates,
> but he doesn't stick
> to his subject. The Introduction is unfocused. It's
> purpose is not clear. Pynchon identifies his audiance
> but he neglects them.
>

Why doesn't he stick to his subject  - "(these stories)" - when he
apologizes for offensive language in his early stories saying "the best I
can say for it now is that, for its time, it is probably authentic enough."
(11.27-28)

> Generally, his essays are examples of bad writing. The
> Introduction to Farina's book, in which he takes up
> some of the same topics, is an exception.
>

I disagree, I was very much impressed by the "Luddite"-, the "Watts"-essay,
"Nearer, My Couch, to Thee" and the "Introduction" to "Slow Learner" as well
as by the "Farina"- and the "Stone Junction" - intro. All these texts are
helpful to understand his novels.

Otto

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