'No hallowed skein of stars can ward, I trow'

[Michael Bailey]

Rob Jackson wrote:
>
> Ultimately, everyone is implicated. The message (both satiric and sincere at
> the same time) seems to be that America alienates all its sons and
> daughters, irregardless of their race, creed or political persuasion.
> American capitalism, as both institution and constitution, is anti-human.

but wait, there's more:
it isn't just an American thing... Squamuglia and Faggio, like
Communism and Capitalism, Sharks and Jets, Moose and Squirrel v Boris
& Natasha, Tristero and Thurn & Taxis, are in perpetual conflict.

Oedipa is presented with this parade of characters, as you kindly
arrayed in a list, Rob, putting them in close enough proximity that -
for the first time for me - they don't just blend together but jog
memories of Oedipa's different reactions to them.

It seems to me that Arrabal's the most appealing to her, and probably
purposefully so.
His first appearance in Mexico is concurrent with her rejection of
Pierce, and I think this rejection is tantamount to rejection of
American capitalism.

But none of her experiences in the book with the alternatives, which
probably comprise (like the song "Sold on Suicide" does for life
itself) a fairly good catalog of rejections of mainstream America, are
conducive to her joining up...
and during the second encounter with Arrabal, the inclusion in his
library of the periodical stamped with the posthorn places him in the
rogue's gallery of those who receive W.A.S.T.E. mail.  I.E, without
malice and not without personal affection she is able to (as in the
Zen proberb) "walk on" (or as in the Burt Bacharach song, walk on by)

If she started by rejecting "American Capitalism" (and by implication,
social structures that include conflict and exploitation, and classes
who profit thereby)(well, they all do - "In capitalism man exploits
man, in communism it's just the opposite")
and resenting Pierce's attachment to stamps...

by the end of the book, she's participating in a capitalist auction
for stamps...
which I still think to be a meaningful distinction.  True, she's been
"cammed out" of her groove in life, but has performed mental calculus
to evaluate the new experiences, not done anything particularly insane
herself.
Also, her interest in history has been aroused, she's made valuable contacts...
I'd say she probably leaves the auction and goes to grad school.

Or else Pierce Inverarity appears as the mystery bidder and the whole
thing has been a scam.


-- 
"What's the story, morning glory?  What's the word, hummingbird?" -
from Bye Bye Birdie