IV Chapter 18 Thoughts

[rich]

Chapter 18 is probably the point in any IV film version where you'd
get some of the funky 70s background music seeing as there's lots of
physical action going on--an abduction, torture, murder, violence,
etc.
Doc gets to the bottom of the mystery of Adrian Prussia's involvement
with the LAPD but we never find out who within the department hired
him or made the deal. If Bigfoot knows he isn't telling but we can
infer that The Golden Fang is involved and therefore his pursuit of
them will continue.
Doc doesn't go meet Prussia with any violent intent, there are more
than enough instances where Doc is shown to be concerned for others
throughout the chapter, even Prussia himself, calling him an ambulance
after he shoots him, for example
Doc's only real troubling act is knowingly mortally wounding Puck. I'm
not about to make a judgement, Puck is a real scumbag, but it is
murder.
I think Doc' equating Bigfoot with Manson is pretty interesting;
Bigfoot is as obsessed with his partner as Vond is with Frenesi and
I'm thankful Pynchon didn't sexualize that relationship as he has done
with many others, its solely a trust thing, believing your partner
will be there for you. Of course, there are others who rely on trust
like the Golden Fang, but that trust is based upon fear and violence.
Another wallop of a relevation to consider is the ultimate corruption
of the LAPD, using creeps like Puck and Prussia to settle scores
(political and otherwise) in the most brutal of fashion. There's no
real mention of the Viggies here, just street thugs and their
usefulness for law enforcement.
One of the more weaker aspects of the chapter deals with Doc's
dispatching of Prussia. Prussia is built up to be this major badass
but his actions (and Pucks) come across like one of those villians in
the Batman TV show--always seemingly leaving room for the good guy to
escape and broadcasting their devious moves before they do it (though
Doc's escape is pretty ingenious)
I'm not sure why Pynchon felt the need to show Doc and friends staring
at a non-TV filled with an uber-addictive substance. Considering what
the forces of repression are up to and what we find out what they're
all about, having Doc, Denis and Jade stoned and staring like zombies
at nothing says alot, if its not said very subtly. They don't stand a
chance.
Doc seems almost relieved that there is an option of dealing with the
Golden Fang, and the return of their dope.
But, finally, I think Doc's despairing view in the beginning of the
chapter, folks believing what's on the tube or in the papers that they
read on their drive to work, and what good would Lemuria be to them
since they've been in exile for so long to even remember such a place,
despite that he enters hell like Christ on that harrowing mission, he
still cares enough to do something even if he ends up on this path
unknowningly.
He is pushed and pointed by many in the book, but seems to come out
unscathed beyond some flickering uneasiness in his psyche. One gets
the feeling he'll survive even if there are no end to all those
bummers.

rich