atdtda: 31 - pg 869

[kelber at mindspring.com]

I haven't had the guts or fortitude to tackle Proust, but another p-list poster (too far in the past for me
 to remember) said that these detailed clothing descriptions were straight out of Proust.  Not surprising
 that he goes all out in the descriptions before plugging Remembrance on the next page.

Something that caught my attention on p. 869:

The discussion between the Prince and Cyprian about finding someone to avenge Vlado's death:

"'I have recently returned,' said Cyprian carefully,'from a place where it is much more difficult, at least
 for the great Powers, to subvert personal honor.  A place less developed no doubt than the sophisticated
 cultures of the West, still naive, if not quite innocent.'"

Cyprian eventually recruits Vlado's cousin, Zlatko.

Now all of this seems to be kind of a slap in the face to Reef and Kit.  It could certainly be argued that 
they spring from a place "less developed" rather than from the "sophisticated cultures of the West," 
(a nice play on the meaning of "West").  So why don't they have the same passion to avenge their father's death.  Although they can't be bought off (Vibe tries this strategy with Kit), they're easily diverted.  Not much passion in evidence.   So we get Cyprian-Zlatko-passion-revenge-less-developed (anarchistic) = good, 
and Reef-Kit- no passion-no revenge- less developed (anarchistic) - seduced by sophisticated culture? also = good.  Why isn't TRP more pissed off at Reef and Kit's behavior?  Are they meant to be reflections through 
Iceland Spar of the noble passion of Cyprian and Zlatko?

Laura


-----Original Message-----
>From: Bekah <Bekah0176 at sbcglobal.net>
>Sent: Apr 26, 2008 10:12 AM
>To: P-list Liste <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: atdtda: 31 - pg 869
>
>A couple of annotations from page 869
>
>869.20   salizzada  - a paved street
>http://www.bellereti.com/jzimm/Venice/Calli.html
>
>  Cyprian catches his first look at Reef,   but his eyes are on  
>Yashmeen who is all decked out (so to speak) and Pynchon writes  
>fashion pieces with such zest,  and perhaps a bit of possible  
>symbolic flavor.
>
>Yashmeen's dress is made of
>aubergine  taffeta - a kind of eggplant/plum color on a crisp shiny  
>fabric with silver brocade trim
>http://tinyurl.com/3stvsp
>which is styled in a manner similar to:
>http://www.fashion-era.com/images/Silhouettes/1905dressbasqcen1000.jpg
>
>and she has  claret colored (red close to burgundy) capeskin (a light  
>flexible leather made from sheepskins with the natural grain  
>retained) gloves    and kid leather boots - same color.   Her hat has  
>plumes of the same color (claret) and a  brim raked to one side.
>http://tinyurl.com/5rk73z (scroll down)
>
>***  I don't know about you folks,  but imo,  aubergine (plum) and  
>claret (burgundy) clash if the tone - amount of light  -  is not  
>perfect - like Austria and Venice.
>
>http://www.ccfdesign.com/ASP/WebDesign/Articles/Web-Color-Chart-II.asp
>The eggplant in this sample is a bit grey imo,  it should be somewhat  
>more purple - like what they call violet there.
>
>Bekah
>