VL--IV Passivity, more active thoughts

[Robin Landseadel]

On Jan 6, 2009, at 9:41 AM, kelber at mindspring.com wrote:

> I think they're as developed as the next Pynchon character.  It's  
> kind of disturbing for me as a feminist that he's chosen to portray  
> two duplicitous women (with counter-agent Katje as a third).  These  
> aren't demeaning portrayals of women -- none are bimbos or bitches  
> -- nor are they bad guys (Frenesi's no Brock Vond, Lake's no Vibe,  
> Katje's no Weissmann).  But why are these morally equivocal,  
> duplicitous types all female?  Or maybe I've just missed their male  
> counterparts?  Any suggestions, anyone?

As usual, with TRP there seems to be loads of auto-biographical  
inspiration in his books, but a solid brick wall separating us from  
the details of the author's life. It is possible to read a feminist  
sub-text into these characters—the female characters are in a trap,  
it's in the nature of hierarchical systems with God on top [I've been  
influenced by Mary Daly & Starhawk—so sue me]. Heresy is central to  
all of Pynchon's writing, it's in his blood.

But it's also possible that OBA's had Female Trouble, and that it's  
reflected in his novels. Flashing Bugs Bunny's maxillary central  
incisors a-a-a-and a stutter never were big turn ons, or so I've heard.

I do think that Lake/Frenesi are ruled by something in the blood—a  
bigtime response to the crazed "Alpha Male." Note, however, that Deuce  
& Brock both get major-league comeuppance. So Karma has a big role to  
play as well.

Vond's a bad guy's bad guy, but Weissmann & Vibe are a bit more  
complicated than that.