VL Ch. 14 Summary of pages 294-306 + comments questions

[Joseph Tracy]

VL Ch. 14 Summary of pages 294-306

Frenesi has left Zoyd for Brock and Brock is not interested in  
Prairie , but 1 year later he sends Hector Zuniga to set up Zoyd by  
planting a  giant monolith of weed in the Gordita Beach apt. Deft  
misdirection on authors’ part to make Zoyd and reader think Brock’s  
after Prairie. Zoyd stays calm we see his care for the child. Sash  
shows up, first presumes pot is Zoyd’s , then finds he was set up.  
She takes Prairie with her while  Zoyd ,who has been crying a lot  
heads to the slammer.

Long conversation with Vond. Turns out Brock does not want Prairie,  
but a guarantee that Zoyd will disappear into hinterlands with  
Prairie and not be easy for Frenesi to find. That or Zoyd goes to  
prison . Zoyd agrees and Vond has him punched in stomach as his  
personal signature, Zoyd released, goes home. Hector is there.

Hector hectors Zoyd  to snitch; gets meaningless info. not snitch  
material.

Zoyd goes to Sasha’s , Prairie greets him with “Dah dee no! no  ippie  
bum. She is soon back with kisses though.  Zoyd has long talk with  
Sasha. We find Zoyd was forced to watch as Frenesi left the building  
with Vond, and the deal he made with Zoyd, and  that Zoyd will be  
tracked via mental disability checks.  Sasha tells Zoyd about  
Vineland. Frenesi knows, loves Vineland,where Sasha has family ,  
Traverses, Beckers. There is lots of wild country and a big migration  
of longhairs from south. Zoyd decides to go.

                    Comments/Questions

The relationship of the 2 Z’s  is cordial, sympathetic, almost  
friendly with common cultural references like 2001, the Lone Ranger.  
There is a weird dynamic between this human side and the roles  
designated by the power games. There are lots of pairings in Pynchon.  
Why ? What is this one about? Is there wisdom in Hector’s comments  
about remarrying? What about the fading highlights in Hector’s eyes?

In CH 13 we saw Frenesi go through intense post partum depression but  
after hanging with Family seemed to be bonding with Prairie. So  
Vond’s smirking” so you’ve reproduced.”  is an assault on biology,  
family which despite its chilling coldness has an appeal for  
Frenesi . Part of the appeal of the argument is broader. It is a  
questionable vision of feminism as a liberation to behave as men:  
career first, pleasure first, self first. It presents equality as  
equal sharing in the power structures, adopting the dominant paradigm  
( to change it from within) with all the powers and privileges that  
accrue.  Sees this theory has played out big in the US so we have  
lots of women power players which is only fair,  but not much in the  
way of change from within; same pressures are turning Obama into a  
weenie .)  Other readings of “ another planet where not everyone’s  
fate is to to produce and bring up children”?

Sasha’s comment “ About  the only thing‘ll get a fascist through‘s  
his charm.” seems a loaded observation worthy of comment.

Thassit fernow  thought we'd start with a chunk of text and see if  
there is anything p-listers wanna zoom in on.