VLVL2 (1-5): Summative Thoughts (addendum)

[joeallonby]

on 9/18/03 11:35 PM, Don Corathers at gumbo at fuse.net wrote:



Zoyd not only provides the point of view for the first five chapters, he is
the point of entry into the novel. Now that his perspective is established,
it filters all of the rest of the narrative for me, whether he's present or
not. I think that's probably true of most readers of who have hands-on
experience of 1968.

Don   



Good point. I have always thought that this novel was in many ways about
Zoyd and the government's "interest and intervention in his life". I don't
think he feels guilt about being a welfare/disability cheat. He is guilty of
accepting a buy-off and he knows it. But a man does what a man has to do:
even if it involves wearing a dress and jumping through a window to get your
family fed.

Frenesi screwed him over and so did the government. He expected the
government to do so. But he has the kid. He is the most honorable person in
the story. I like Zoyd. I think Pynchon does too.

My most potent memories of 1968, unfortunately, see to come from Mad
Magazine. My relatives who were in places like Danang don't seem to like to
talk about that year very much.

On that note:

Nixon!

He was the one in '68!

He'll be an even bigger one in '72!

Peace,
Joe

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