AtDTdA (9): 245

[David Morris]

On 5/15/07, Jasper <jasper.fidget at gmail.com> wrote:
> David Morris wrote:
> >
> > We've discussed previously Pynchon's repeated focus on personal responsibility for following orders versus the natural tendency to not want to know their origin or the consequences of obedience (as well as the personal consequences for disobedience).  And the Chums seem a perfect example of this moral quandary.
> >
> > What is it the Chums fear: growing old.
> >
> > Somehow they've been led to believe their status as flying Chums will allow them to remain youths, and that's what keeps them obedient.  And the parallel to this illusion of eternal youth is that, yes, they won't remain young if they start acting like adults and take responsibility for their own actions.  Such personal responsibility has its costs, but so does shirking the imperative to grow up, because death will still find them, and when it does they'll find their youth was illusory.
> >
>
> Do you believe we should draw connections to religions that promise eternal life for earthly obedience?
>
Sure, it's just the same.  And I think it makes little difference
whether the religion one submits oneself to is externally organized or
internally generated.  As long as one is submitting one's mind to an
external authority, real or imagined, personal responsibility is
handed over to another.

This reminds me of the poem "Invictus."

David Morris