1984 Foreword "fascistic disposition"

[Malignd]

<<No, I think what Pynchon is saying is that those of
"fascistic disposition", or those who "are all too
ready to justify" whatever the govt does (like the
proles and the Party faithful in _1984_) perceive
arguments like Orwell's, critiques of their own govts
etc, as "unseemly" in times of war and duress. It's
Pynchon's choice of word, but he's using it
sarcastically to imply that people who take that
attitude are a bit precious and condescending.>>

So we agree on who's calling what unseemly, but
disagree as to tone--no small thing--and this hangs on
what is meant by "unseemly," or so it reads to me.  

You're saying, I think, that Pynchon intends the word
to convey an attitude akin to being offended by brown
socks and black shoes, "bad form, old man," etc.; I've
obviously thought he meant something more serious and,
I admit, your reading--the intended sarcasm--hadn't
until now occurred to me.  The overall meaning of the
passage can certainly swing on that difference.

Despite the Harumph Twins bloviating to the contrary
("conservative apologetics,"), I have no political axe
to grind, no problem believing P intended as you
suggest, no stake in seeing him on one side or the
other (sides, frankly, I didn't know existed until
people started strutting their dudgeon).  But I don't
see how one can come down finally, firmly, for one or
another reading of this, other than in insisting that
the P one knows and loves could never opine something
so, well, unseemly, as that proferred by those reading
differently.



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