1984 Foreword "redefining a world in which the Holocaust did not happen"

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In a message dated 4/27/2003 6:54:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
jbor at bigpond.com writes:


> You originally stated that you didn't think Orwell "fell into the category"
> of those who knew what had happened in the death camps, which is the
> opposite of what Pynchon actually says in the Foreword. Do we agree on 
> that?
> 
> 

Here's what I wrote:

       In what Dave quoted I do not see any evidence that Pynchon
       is suggesting Orwell fell into the second category of
       character you describe in GR:

       "...those who did know what happened in the death camps."

Here are your examples of characters affected by the same reticence 
that Orwell might have been affected by:

       I think it's clear that Katje knows, and I've raised the idea
       before that in playing the "Oven-game" both Katje and Blicero 
       are trying to defer or erase from their minds what they know or 
       suspect is happening in the camps. If we accept that Pirate 
       can enter into the thoughts and dreams of others then it's 
       probable that he's aware too...

I don't see the similarity between Orwell's reticience and any of these
characters presently, but you may be on to something here. 

       This is all territory which has been covered here before.

The comparison between Orwell's motivations for not highlighting the
Holocaust with the motivations of Katje, Blicero and Pirate for denying
it's existence? I do not recall that, but as I said, I find it interesting. 
It
would suggest a commonality between those characterizations and
Orwell that I had not thought of before. Blicero, I think, must be 
disqualified
right off ther bat. He knows yet he seems to be using his knowledge
to further his enjoyment of life. Katje seems a willing participant in his
pursuits of pleasure, but I fail to recognize anything in her compliance
with control that reminds me of Orwell's complex motivations. Pirate is
a possibility, but the connection with Orwell, let alone Pirate's
knowledge of The Holocaust, is tenuous at best.

respectfully 



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