The 'Waste' Law | Pynchon's genealogical influences

[Mr Haney]

daniel harper> > With this I agree. There's a lot of conspiracy-mongering around these> parts by otherwise reasonable people -- while the rich and powerful> have always engaged in PR to make themselves look good, I don't think> that the history of the P's is some deep dark coded history that will> enlighten our views of the whole of American history or any such> thing. It's a rich family engaging in the sports that rich families> have always engaged in (and yes, that includes crushing poor people in> the process) -- nothing that thousands of other "rich scion" families> would not have also done.> 
crux - or dilemma? - that I want to elaborate on here,
or spell out just a little bit:
 
Possibility 1) 
Robin mentioned the possibility of
the Vibe family as a disguised Pynchon family
-- this is way interesting, and, both complimenting &
contradicting Possibility 2 (below), it has the potential
to be a useful lever in "unpacking" the furniture of AtD
 
Possibility 2) 
much of the textual material
in terms of the "road-not-taken" theme, has been interpreted
(by Hollander, and perhaps Robin) as pointers to
a notion that, left in power, Morgan-Pynchon market domination
would have been "kinder and gentler" than the
upstart Harriman-Rockefeller implementation.  
 
to "unpack" Possibility 2: if indeed there is "war in Heaven"
and the Morgan-Pynchon adherents are laying low and
plotting their comeback, then what sort of devious
counterplot is it for EFT to become a famous reclusive novelist
and encode these speculations within his novels? ---
it reminds me of something...oh, yes: the message in the
pearl that Lindsay bites!  The Rockefellers and Harrimans
must be shaking in their boots...their gold-plated teacups
rattling in their saucers as they brace against the next novel...
 
and yet, let us remember that satirists, and even their
enablers, do often face jail or worse.  
One of Rushdie's translators, for instance,
was stabbed to death.
 
Occam-like, "what's wrong with simply figuring that
an intelligent man would take an interest in his family's history,
especially in the context of a career
as an historical novelist; that he would apply artistic insight
and moral judgement to the facts he learned;
and that it is he, rather than those personages who,
in possession of benefits derived from business practices
not overly anchored to concern for their fellow people,
that might be nervous about the light shed on their activities
by his work (though still courageous enough to publish it)?"
 
his courage is an example for others to speak up in
favor of goodness.  the fact that he is appalled by
the consequences of heartless business plans, that he's
able to publish, and find readers, speaks well of
humanity.  the possibility that some future magnate might
find a useful mirror for self-criticism, might make
the connection between his financial power and the possibility
of alleviating human suffering, o-or even fostering human joy,
might be a factor in EFT's continuing willingness to 
risk discussing these matters. 
 
 
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