ATDTDA - petroleurs, p.19

[kelber at mindspring.com]

I don't find anything in these passages that suggests that Webb is a bad or morally ambiguous character.  The "note of reproach" in his voice while crying out his sons's names  as he's being tortured to death seems more directed towards his sons than expressing any regret at his own life.  

On p. 193, the full sentence:

"Having succeeded one way or another in driving away his whole family, Webb was joining the company of those who, with their judgment similarly impaired, had allowed themselves to be charmed by Deuce Kindred, to their great consequent sorrow."

I personally feel that Webb is one of the most, if not the most, sympathetic characters in the book.  His tragic flaw being that he spent too much time being an anarchist to be a good father.  His initial impulse towards Deuce Kindred is a fatherly one.  Before the sentence quoted above, Webb lays " a reassuring hand on the kid's shoulder ... not feeling or choosing to ignore Deuce's flinch."  Webb has presumably killed people in his anarchist attacks, but comes across as a kind and decent person with his own moral code (p.87).  He's a solid good guy.  His sons seem to feel sporadic guilt towards not avenging his death.  Their lack of vengeance doesn't become a central tragedy of their lives.  They move on.  Lake, of course, is a different story.  She may be the one who exerts the ultimate vengeance on Deuce.


Laura

-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>
   
>  How about the "note of reproach in his [own] voice" on P. 197 as "he watched the light over the ranges slowly draining away", p 198
>   
>  "his judgment similarly impaired"  onp 193
>   
>  looking for more.
>   
>  How about the fate of revenge and what it does to his sons..and how TRP comments on that later in the novel?....(gotta find).
>
>  and his daughter' s meaning in the novel, mated [sic] with his killers?  
>  Author commenting on Webb's relationship to other killers?
>   
>  His name....one meaning: to traverse (moral) boundaries?
>kelber at mindspring.com wrote:
>  Can you cite any specific examples?
>
>Laura
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Mark Kohut 
>
>> 
>> I think there is plenty of textual evidence for only sympathizing so far with Webb.....and never with his 'terrorizing".
>>
>>kelber at mindspring.com wrote:
>
>The theme of the double nature of the anarchist/terrorist runs throughout the book. We sympathize with "good" terrorists like Webb, while fearing, subliminally, along with Pynchon, "bad" terrorists like al-Quaeda.
>>
>>
>>Laura
>>
>>
>> 
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