Pynchon's Quest Narratives ...

[Paul Mackin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robin Landseadel" <robinlandseadel at comcast.net>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: Pynchon's Quest Narratives ...


> On Jul 26, 2009, at 5:23 PM, Paul Mackin wrote:
>
>> . . . Pynchon tends to give us examples of characters and their  feelings 
>> . . .
>
> . . . aka simulacra.
>
What we're talking about may well be related to the idea that reality has 
been replaceded by social contructs.

"Examples" wasn't a particularly good word --I grabbed it out of the aid 
because it fit easily into a short sentence.

The idea of subjunctivity may be more to the point.

The hypothetical, the perhaps, the could have been, or, in extremis, the 
contrary to fact.

Poekler and his daughter, Dixon whipping the slave driver.

Did the latter happen or, as implied a short time later, was it only Dixon 
family mythology?