GR 'Streets' (death and/or afterlife)

[Paul Mackin]

On Mon, 2003-04-21 at 19:55, Terrance wrote:
> 
> 
> Paul Mackin wrote:
> > 
> > I suspect, since Terrance has been telling us to read Father Rapier,
> > this reference relates in part at least to de Chardin's idea of
> > convergence of matter toward a final unity (omega point), which for
> > Rapier rather comically becomes the reaching of "Critical Mass" where
> > technology has reached the point of development where there in no longer
> > the possibility for freedom. Also Rapier injects the unorthodox idea
> > that "they" may never die,. with the unfortunate consequence that the
> > despoiling of the earth and nature will go on unchecked, which is
> > equivalent to Pynchonian "no return" or "no way back." However Rapier
> > adds a "disclaimer" to the effect that perhaps it is still possible to
> > make "them" die if not in their beds but by violence. That's my
> > understanding of what Father Rapier is preaching in the Pynchonian Hell
> > scene.
> > 
> > P.
> 
> The disclaimer and the fear (the Priest sounds afraid) indicate that at
> this point in the sermon the priest is preaching THEIR sermon. Doesn't
> it?


My inclination is not to try and push logic too far here. The "us"
"them" and "we systems are fashioned from the material of Pynchonean
fancy. Best to simply stand as still as possible and let the magical
language wash over you. In other words, the thing is not going to parse.

P.

P.