Pynchon's titles (was ...

[jbor at bigpond.com]

>> Also, the pluralisation ("die enden") opens up additional meanings, 
>> possibilities (i.e. "ends", as opposed to "means", is an alternate 
>> meaning, in English at least, but in German too I'd guess, but the 
>> idea that there is more than one "end", or final point, provides 
>> scope for those subjunctive hopes and dreams Pynchon is so fond of). 
>> I'd assume that most German readers would also be well aware of what 
>> the English title was, and so the notion of "the end of the rainbow" 
>> gets factored into the equation there as well.
>>
>> Should also have noted that there are several relevant meanings of 
>> "lot" as well as of "crying".

On 21/08/2005, at 2:37 PM, Otto wrote:
>
> The mathematical parable has no "end(s)".
>
> In the fairytale world at the end of a rainbow you'll find a big 
> treasure.

There's also _The Wizard of Oz_ tie-in: 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' 
... "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas any more. . . . " (279) 
etc.

> Several meanings of "lot": these of course get lost in the translation.

Do they? Mucho's used car lot. A person's "lot", as in their 
apportioned share of something. Or "lot", as in "a lot" ... many, much 
(mucho?)

There's also that Pentecost thing with the number 49 (the arguments for 
which I've never found to be a particularly persuasive).

best