AtDTdA: (9) 266-267

[David Morris]

Well, also remember how prominent is the albatross in GR!

"[Slothrop's] been changing, sure, changing, plucking the albatross of
self now and then, idly, half-conscious as picking his nose" 623.

"So is her son Tyrone, but only because by now--early Virgo--he has
become one plucked albatross. Plucked, hell--stripped. Scattered all
over the Zone. It's doubtful if he can ever be "found" again, in the
conventional sense of "positively identified and detained." Only
feathers...redundant or regenerable organs, "which we would be tempted
to classify under the 'Hydra-Phänomen' were it not for the complete
absence of hostility...."--Natasha Raum, "Regions of Indeterminacy in
Albatross Anatomy [...]" 712;

" The Man has a branch office in each of our brains, his corporate
emblem is a white albatross" 712-13;

Also, though it is never expressly stated in GR, that Dumbo-feather
that Slothop holds on to (in order to hold on - Didn't Pirate P give
it to him?) has to be that of an albatross.

The bird obviously functions on a multitude of levels having to do
with guilt, repentance, memory and history.

David Morris


On 5/24/07, Jasper <jasper.fidget at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> albatross cloth
> Evidently a distinct color/design for a wedding or wedding party dress in the West at the time.
> ---
> albatross
> I hesitate to bring up "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" again, but doesn't Lake wearing an albatross, the symbol of the Mariner's guilt, sort of beg for it?
>
> "Ah! well a-day! what evil looks
> Had I from old and young!
> Instead of the cross, the Albatross
> About my neck was hung."
> (139-142)
>
> http://www.bartleby.com/101/549.html