Gothicism in Postmodern Anglo-American Narratives and Media

[Bandwraith at aol.com]

I wonder O'Brien says "Spätzünder" in German translations of 1984.
 
Would anyone here like to check that?
 
Best,
 
d.
 
-------------------------
 
I don't think the argument that "Slow Learner"
wasn't chosen with _1984_  in mind, is credible;
especially given Pynchon's admiration of  Orwell's
masterpiece.
 
It does beg the question, however- what does it
mean to be a slow  learner, with respect to
Winston Smith, and w/r/t a  fictionalist's
apprentice- that guy who Pynchon might or
might not bend an  elbow with at the local pub?
 
Is there an intersection between the two?
 
"To learn" comes from an Indo-European root, "leis"
which apparently  meant "track or furrow"
 
 _http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE276.html_ 
(http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE276.html) 
 
The cortex of the brain and "the mind's plowshare"
might be apt  associations in this contex. And
certainly, the unravelling and  re-programming of
Winston's lot by O'Brien's techniques also seems
apt- in  which case, being a "slow" learner might
seem a somewhat courageous, if  futile, act of
resistance. The horrors of Pointsman's  pavlovian
experiments are possible references which might
be  relevant.
 
With respect to Pynchon's apprenticeship as a writer,
the reference to  Winston Smith seems at first ironic
and  concordant with the  self-deprecating tone of the
intro, but given the intensity of Winston's  pain, the 
political seriousness of his dilemma and Pynchon's 
respect for Orwell, mightn't there be a deeper meaning- 
i,e, leaning how to avoid punishment while speaking 
the truth?
 
Of course, the title might have been chosen innocently
by some publisher's apprentice, as suggested earlier, 
but I would bet against that.
 
 
Bandwraith

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