VLVL 3 Zoyd & Hector

[jbor]

on 9/8/03 12:38 AM, Otto at ottosell at yahoo.de wrote:

>>> The point
>>> that Pynchon makes is a good joke when Hector talks about "the
>>> matter of drugs" (23.32-33) and stupid Van Meter simply gets it wrong.
>> 
>> I think you've misread this exchange. Van Meter was being a smart aleck.
>> Zoyd was the one who didn't catch on.
>> 
> 
> I don't think so:
> 
> "Aaaaaa . . . ," went Van Meter." (24.4)
> 
> after he realizes what he has said and done.
> 

>From the 'Babies of Wackiness' site:

    p. 23 "What I'm really here about..." This is an *old*
    "head" joke. ["Head" = sixties slang for weed-head, or
    "soft" drug-user.] The cop raps at the door and says
    "I'm here about drugs," and the doper says, "Thank God!
    We're all out!" It's right up there with the one where
    the cop says, "Your papers, please!" and the head whips
    out his Zig-Zags.

http://www.mindspring.com/~shadow88/chapter3.htm

Either way -- and the "'Aaaaaa ....' went Van Meter" line can indeed be read
either way, though it's Zoyd rather than the other three men who is the one
having trouble "trying to understand" (23.2) -- the "fatal five spot" refers
to the moment Zoyd became aware of the snitch culture operating in his home.

> "That fatal-five spot was not the last (...)" (24.12)
> 
> So I guess this means it's been the first.
> 

No, it doesn't mean or imply this at all.

    That fatal-five spot was not the last Purchase-of-Information
    disbursement in the neighbourhood. (24.12)

It's the first time Zoyd sees the exchange of money for information and it's
the exact moment when he realises what's going on (and thus why it's
"fatal", for Zoyd -- it's not "fatal" to anyone else, Van Meter still safe
and healthy in the present day of the novel). That sort of thing had been
going on quite regularly in "those years", is the implication.

>>> How could he tell bribe
>>> from honest money?
>> 
>> Zoyd rolled his eyes as the bass player grabbed at the money. (24.8)
>> 
> 
> Yes, which speaks for Zoyd. Even if he got cheated later he never turned
> "the dealer in to Hector" (24.27) because this is something you just don't
> do if you want to keep your moral integrity.

This is the way Zoyd justifies himself to himself. But, as to your previous
assertion, it is quite clear that Zoyd *is* able to "tell bribe from honest
money".

> The way BV has treated Frenesi, abused her feelings, and Zoyd, is fascism at
> his best.

But what about the way Frenesi treated Weed? DL and the others? Prairie? Her
folks? Let alone Zoyd! Frenesi is the one who goes after Brock, not vice
versa.

So far, the description of Republican government in the US as a "fascist
regime" (28.10) is Zoyd's hyperbole only.

The other thing to note is that much of Hector's frustration with Zoyd is
due to the fact that he hasn't taken more from the government when he could
have, 

    "passín up some *really serious bucks*'t you could've spent not
    just on y'rself and your kid but on all your beloved bro and sister
    hippie fools who could've used it as much as you?" (32.17)

I don't disagree that Zoyd is, or tries his best to be, a good father and
all that, of course, but Hector is sincere in looking out for Zoyd's best
interests too. When he asks Zoyd "What about your kid, then?" (30.34) he's
exactly right. Prairie *does* want to find out about her mother. Zoyd's
defensive reply is yet another miscue.

And, that "[l]ate hit" (30.13) which Zoyd does register is Hector saying
that all Zoyd would need to do to be a government stoolie and earn the extra
cash is to "be yourself" (30.11).

>> And, meanwhile, Zoyd scores yet another free lunch off of the government
>> payroll (32.33, cf. 30.17).
>> 
> 
> Oh yes, I see, big deal --

Hector's point precisely (22.8-9).

> what did he do for this "bribe"?

He needs do nothing at all (30.11-12).

> Is it really the
> government payroll or Hector's private money? We'll never know.

Either way. But if it is Hector's own money then he's *definitely* not a
"fascist cop".

best