James Wood On Pynchon's Characters

[Michael Bailey]

enthusiasm - the various "manias" that people in Pynchon's books
succumb to -  seems to  be the general case of the specific reefer-habit
Doc lives with

Merle goes thru a  similar enthusiasm for  photography - it captures
his attention and  forms a foreground for his life for a long period of time.
It draws him into various adventures  and associations.  It gives him new
insights.  Like churchill with his brandy, he gets more  from it than
it takes from him.

Dixon with his "ketjap" - to feed the habit, he's  drawn out of his usual
orbit, has new experiences.

The vormance expedition has a similar episode with hot sauce.