Pynchon's politics, as exhibited in Vineland

[Ghetta Life]

Well said.  VL is not a political tract.  It is more a characterization of 
dynamics, many motives and forces interacting over a span of time.  Although 
no one would say Brock Vond was dealt with sympathetically (and maybe that’s 
a VL failing), neither are any other characters without their own failings, 
all of which have consequences.  That said, VL, for me, was a flop barely 
worth reading, except for the insights it gives to some of the themes in GR 
(the Street, Pure action…)

Ghetta


>From: mikebailey at speakeasy.net
>
>ah, maybe; but what I like best about Vineland is that although yes it 
>shows familiarity and affection for the lefties, it strives for a more 
>mature perspective, translating political movements into emotional 
>components and life consequences, and (for me, at least) suggesting that 
>family and love trump politics; suggesting that the fact that political 
>power comes out of the barrel of a gun taints political power irremediably 
>and renders it not worth striving for...
>but that's almost a subsidiary point behind the evocation of the emotions 
>and the working out of the different characters' karma, and the fulfillment 
>of the ancient artistic charge: reaffirm stock values, urge the abandonment 
>of the revenge ethic, and as Austin Powers said "Show me love!"

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