Fw: ATDTDA 671ff: Pynchon on anger--Orwell's

[Mark Kohut]

In the Foreword to a recent edition of 1984 Thomas Pynchon wrote: “His anger, let us go so far as to say, was precious to him. He had lived his way into it—in Burma and Paris and London and on the road to Wigan Pier, and in Spain, ...


----- Forwarded Message ----
From: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
To: Michael Bailey <michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com>
Cc: Pynchon-l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 3:49:32 PM
Subject: Re: ATDTDA 671ff

On Jan 17, 2008 3:01 AM, Michael Bailey <michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 672 "But I sold my anger too cheap, didn't understand how precious it was" -- Never understood that - seems like an unpleasant emotion that one gets rid of asap, deep breathing or whatever.  Never something to base action on...

Naw.  "Righteous" anger can be an effective energy source for action
one might otherwise be squeemish to pursue.  And it's preciousness
would be the result of a very deep wrong that deserves a thorough and
powerful response, an "expensive" one both in the effort expended and
the consequences wrought.

From Wiki:

Three types of anger are recognized by psychologists: One connected to
the impulse for self-preservation, occurring when the person or animal
is tormented or trapped. The second type of anger is a reaction to
perceived deliberate harm doing or unfair treatment by others.
Irritability, sullenness and churlishness are examples of the third
type of anger which is related more to character traits than to
instincts or cognitions.[3]

Modern psychologists view anger as a primary, natural and even mature
emotion experienced by all humans at times, something that has
functional value for survival. Anger can mobilize psychological
resources for corrective action. Uncontrolled anger can however
negatively affect personal or social well-being.[4][1]


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