The Big One

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

The occult is an element I am particularlly likely to note in Pynchon's books. Obviously, different peole draw different things out of TRP's books, but that is the single element in his books I'm most likely to track. For me Preterite/Elect = Pagan/Monotheistic=Left/Right. "Enlightment"---the elevation of the "rational" over "local pagan mental disorders"---is all about the imposition of a certain kind of controll over certain kinds of "irrational" beliefs. And M&D is loaded with the magically irrational. A blinking L.E.D., anyone?
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Otto <ottosell at googlemail.com>
> 2006/8/8, robinlandseadel at comcast.net <robinlandseadel at comcast.net>:
> > Something I have yet to hear mentioned here: What if "Against the Day " turns 
> out to be "The Big One", the one that ties it all together?
> 
> The idea is ok, but what do you need the occult for?
> 
> > Here's my thoughts. The Occult elements of Pynchon always have been my focus. 
> This just dawned on me: "Mason & Dixon" deals with the historical Mason/Dixon 
> line between an age alchemical and an age scientific. Along with all those 
> anachronisims and bad puns, there's tonne's of olde magicke and persuits 
> alchemical. The historical range of "Against the Day" covers the early 
> development of the Golden Dawn. This will tie this book much more tightly to the 
> occult elements in "Gravity's Rainbow". "ATD" just might be "The Big One".
> >
> 
> Isn't the idea that ATD might be the "missing link" between M&D and
> "V" resp. "GR" historically enough?
> 
> And the overall story isn't occultism but Enlightenment?