VLVL 4: RC

[Terrance]

> 
> > Are there any positive portrayals of **American**  Vietnam Vets in
> > Vineland?
> 
> I don't think that RC, or even Blood, are depicted totally negatively either
> of course. Or, another way of putting it is that I don't think that any
> character in the novel is a completely "positive" portrayal. I don't think
> that illustrating preconceived notions of "good" and "evil" is what
> Pynchon's texts are about, though I do think he pushes the envelope for the
> reader to think about the type of judgements she or he makes about what's
> "moral" or "correct" and what isn't. There are always complications of
> perspective and scale which get factored in to the situation.

I don't think there are any positive portrayals of American Vietnam
Veterans in this book. After reading M&D again and Vineland twice more
I've come to the conclusion that Pynchon has become more cynical and
that his books get darker with age. At one point in VL he alludes to
Melville's Confidence Man.