Martinez: From Under the Rose to V

[jbor]

A comparative linguistic analysis of the two versions of the story; the
essay views the changes through the lenses of cognitive linguistics and
systemic functional linguistics (transitivity analysis in particular), with
a passing nod to Brian McHale and "ontological pluralism":

"From 'Under the Rose' to _V._: A Linguistic Approach to Human Agency in
Pynchon's Fiction" by M. Angeles Martinez. _Poetics Today_ 23.4, Winter
2002, pp. 633-656.

Imo, the essay takes a long while to get to the main issue, and the thematic
and ideological significance of Pynchon's decision to effect a shift in
narrative vantage and agency from the early short story to the chapter
version in the novel is all but lost (p. 651) in the shuffle. It's still an
interesting study, however, in terms of the approach if nothing else.

I think one point to keep in mind is that Pynchon deliberately chose to
showcase the development in his craft by including the early version of the
story in _Slow Learner_, knowing full well that the comparison with Ch. 3 of
_V._ would be made. He could as easily have substituted 'Mortality and Mercy
in Vienna' or one of the _Lot 49_ excerpts in the collection of early work
that was published -- he didn't, he opted for 'Under the Rose'. In so doing,
Pynchon set up a little diachronic display for his readers to witness and
consider.

Anyway, a pdf of Martinez's essay is available. Contact me offlist.

best