_1984_ Foreword

[Tim Strzechowski]

But there are numerous references to America "circa 2003" throughout the
entire essay to indicate that he is indeed keeping the current status of
America -- and the global community -- in mind as he discusses _1984_.

Even if nothing *specifically* contemporary is mentioned *in that
paragraph*, it's pretty obvious throughout the essay (as a whole) that
Pynchon is keeping the homeland and the global community in today's context
in view of his reading of Orwell.

>
>
> Steve Maas wrote:
> >
> > Am I correct in inferring that some here doubt that Pynchon means for
his
> > readers to relate his remarks to current conditions in the U.S.A?
>
> Well, yes and no.
>
>
> How it is
> > possible for someone familiar with P.'s writing to read, for example,
his
> > "fascistic disposition" paragraph, about those who call it subversive to
> > question or criticize your government's anti-democratic actions during
> > wartime, and doubt that P. includes today's conditions in his own
country in
> > his concerns?
>
> Simple enough, he doesn't say anything about conditions in his own
> country in that paragraph. In fact, he talks about England during
> W.W.II.
>