Pynchon's reply

[Paul Mackin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kelber at mindspring.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 19, 2009 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: Pynchon's reply


> And continuing to beat the dead horse:
>
> Driblette's diatribe (angry because Oedipa's asking the right questions): 
> "'You guys, you're like Puritans are about the Bible.  So hung up with 
> words, words.'"
>
> This could be Pynchon's irritation an author's words being overly 
> interpreted (for that matter it could be any author's; Arthur C. Clarke 
> responding to those who insist on the HAL-IBM connection, for example).

Good example. If some kind of additional sense can be attached to a 
combination of letters, then someone up the line must have planned it.

Ingelligent Design Theory.



>
> But then Driblette/Pynchon contradicts himself, seeming to praise the 
> interpreter (critics, directors, adapters) over the writer:  "'That's what 
> I'm for.  To give the spirit flesh.  The words, who cares?'"
>
> Laura
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: John Bailey <sundayjb at gmail.com>
>>Sent: May 18, 2009 11:07 PM
>>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>>Subject: Re: Pynchon's reply
>>
>>Doesn't the SL intro also state something to the effect that P
>>considers "plot" one of his weakest points? (I sort of agree)
>>
>>In which case, the letter to Hollander is probably disingenuous, or at
>>least provoked a little self-reflection on P's part which ended up as
>>an admission that he's not that sharp a plotter.
>>
>>I'm also fascinated by the way his non-book stuff often alternates
>>between strong, confident, pointed assertions and self-deprecating
>>confessions of laziness, erring, procedural laxity etc.
>>
>>I think these caveats should be taken with a grain of salt. But I also
>>think P isn't a Total Mastermind in total control of every aspect of
>>his writing.
>>
>>On Tue, May 19, 2009 at 6:35 AM, Dave Monroe <against.the.dave at gmail.com> 
>>wrote:
>>> On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 4:28 AM, Rob Jackson <jbor at bigpond.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> ... the amusing sign-off contrasting "silence" with "English" ...
>>>
>>> "Heretofore, the naming of names has gone on either literally or as
>>> metaphor. But now, as the Duke gives his fatal command, a new mode of
>>> expression takes over. It can only be called a kind of ritual
>>> reluctance. Certain things, it is made clear, will not be spoken
>>> aloud; certain events will not be shown on stage." --Lot 49, pp. 49-50
>>>
>