GR 'Streets'

[Paul Mackin]

On Wed, 2003-04-16 at 20:10, jbor wrote:
> on 16/4/03 10:43 PM, Paul Mackin at paul.mackin at verizon.net wrote:
> 
> > The atomic bomb was appalling of course like many other events of WWII
> > but if Slothrop was at all typical of American servicemen on that August
> > day of 1945, especially if he had prospects of taking part in the
> > invasion of Japan, his predominant emotion upon hearing the news would
> > have been one of relief.
> 
> But Slothrop isn't at all typical of American servicemen. Where in the text
> is he presented as being worried about taking part in the invasion of Japan?

I thought the discussion might benefit from a touch of historic
actuality. 

P.
> 
> I don't agree that his emotion on seeing the news is one of relief.

Who can say?
>
> 
> on 17/4/03 1:26 AM, David Morris at fqmorris at yahoo.com wrote:
> 
> > As I remember it, Slothrop doesn't recognize the mushroom
> > cloud as such: he envisions it as a large white phallus and pubic bush
> > pointing
> > down from the sky.  And the fact that the headline is largely missing
> > increases
> > the possibility that he doesn't understand the "true" import of the photo.  At
> > this point Slothrop's mind is largely blank, and close to his "Mr. Natural"
> > state (naked in the fields).
> 
> There's some disagreement about whether it's a separate narrative voice
> which is making the connections or whether it's Slothrop. If it is Slothrop,
> which seems to be your argument, then it's a contradiction to then say that
> his mind is largely blank. I don't see that there's anything in the passage
> which suggests that he hasn't recognised the headline and photo for what it
> is. Whether Slothrop or the narrative voice, the attitude towards the
> propaganda logo of the occupation newspaper, and towards the mushroom cloud
> and headline, is not one of jubilation or happiness.
> 
>     Slothrop sits on a curbstone watching it, and the letters,
>     and girl with steel cock waving hi fellas, as the fog whitens
>     into morning, and figures with carts, or dogs, or bicycles
>     go by in brown-gray outlines, wheezing, greeting briefly in
>     fog-flattened voices, passing. He doesn't remember sitting
>     on the curb for so long staring at the picture. But he
>     did.
> 
> The mood here suggests to me that Slothrop is awestruck by what has happened
> and in despair. Which is why he sits staring "for so long" but "doesn't
> remember" doing it. It also connects back quite clearly to the previous
> paragraphs and contemplations ("passage", "morning fog") in the section.
> Just an interpretation.
> 
> best
>