V.,wherefore such silence? Whither goest thou?

[Mark Kohut]

Michael,

I didn't, don't, have enough variety in my responses as you do in your riffs 
here...

Can't see step-function much beyond Key Nodal points of History...


And sinusoidal as the rest of the time.....................

That's it from me.




----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Bailey <michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com>
To: P-list <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sun, December 5, 2010 11:37:19 AM
Subject: Re: V.,wherefore such silence? Whither goest thou?

Mark Kohut  wrote:
>

I thought my response to Laura's post would spark at least one reply.

(as Steve, of Steve and Steve, 2 more of the Crew at the AT&T document
library in 1981 along with Vicky and me, once said:
it's embarrassing to sing out, "Ba- ba- ba-, ba-ba-ba-Ran, and not
have anybody else join in...)

but to continue more briefly

a) I was trying to absorb her argument about the 4 faces of Fausto
into the notion of history as either step-function or sinuous snake

b) But to look at transformation qua transformation:
what other transformations are mentioned in the book?

V.'s transformations occur between snapshots, so to speak.
But certainly she changes drastically.

Stencil's 2 transformations are from "one who enjoyed the pleasures of
sleep" to diplomat/spy, and from that to a quester after V.

Mondaugen finds the area of scientific inquiry that he wants to stake
out, already occupied by fascism, and apparently grows used to it,
settling for a life in the armaments trade.  This may be the saddest
change, simply because his potential is so much greater.

c) re: public life, a prominent idea in V. is decadence.
A decadence in society makes personal progress problematic.
Benny seems rather determined not to transform into anything.
Under the circumstances, not the worst decision.

V.'s demise: probably the most emotional moment in the book.

Fausto the adult watching children;
Fausto who could rescue her, not stepping in
(what is his obligation toward someone he doesn't like?)
Fausto the would-be priest finally moved to offer final comforts

there's something mise-en-sceneish about it...

Stencil watching the WSC, not really getting involved
Mondaugen watching the decadence at Foppl's, not taking a stand
Benny thinking that identifying himself as a schlemiel will exempt him
from taking a stand or making a sincere effort...



-- 
"Three things in life are important. The first is to be kind.  The
second is to be kind.  And the third is to be kind." - Henry James