IVIV (8): Downstairs Eddie

[Joseph Tracy]

I still think he is doing nice here. Leo and Elmina  love, embrace  
and are open with Larry. The net effect of the signing in under other  
names is to keep their love alive, to play, to allow excitement in;  
is this influence of fiction on peoples lives automatically a loss, a  
negative?. The fact that they try pot is another indication that they  
are open and willing to question social rules and want to understand  
the experience of the next generation; this is also a second  
indication that their comfortable suburban lifestyle is a little  
boring. They seem as much intrigued as terrified by the phone call or  
the strange folks at the motel. The connection to the Postman and  
John Garfield can be seen as a kind of secret anti-boss revolutionary  
bias, an appeal to passion over law with a warning about going too  
far and unintended consequences. The overall tone is sunny and sweet  
with interesting shadows,  a character sketch using pop culture to  
fill in some affinities and background. The idea that they are being  
satirized in a dismissive or harsh way doesn't hold up for this  
reader. They are a very credible southern california couple of their  
generation.
Their  attraction to the steamy John Garfield, Lana Turner affair is  
also a contrast to the safe good guy image of Ronnie Reagan and Nancy.
On Oct 3, 2009, at 8:52 AM, alice wellintown wrote:

> rich <richard.romeo at gmail.com> wrote:
>> but they're not real in the sense when reading a novel I never think
>> of any character as flesh and blood
>> it may subvert another convention but at this stage isn't that whole
>> pomo thing such a tiresome trope--don't think Pynchon is doing that
>> bit but he can't do nice very well imho
>
> Maybe he can, but he's not trying to "do nice" here.  Leo and Elmina
> are comic figures (TV characters who imitate film characters who
> imitate fiction characters who imitate real Great Depression
> gangsters, Bonnie and Clyde)  ) and are subjected to satire.