V2nd - a couple three questions

Michael Bailey michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com
Sat Sep 18 04:37:24 CDT 2010


1) the Henry Adams book I'm thinking of just now in conjunction with
V. is that one about the cathedrals, where he talks about the ubiquity
of the Virgin Mary in the 10th century as a driver of (unfortunately)
crusades and (much more inspiringly) cathedrals.  As somebody who
people prayed to, got things done in the name of, a figure in history
who took an active part like Fina breaking up the street fight just by
walking thru!
Is it possible that V. stands for virgin?  And the abbreviation of
virginity by various means, fair and (all too often) foul?

2) anybody catch the 2nd occurrence of small-c catholic in Chapter 7?
(1st was in the description of Mantissa's eyes)

3) I wonder, do we think that old Sidney Stencil's concept of the
Situation devolves from Pynchon's study of, and possible attraction
to, Situationism?  Whether or not that's the case, I do quite like old
soft-shoe Stencil out in front of his chorus line admitting, even
stipulating, that one person can't comprehend a Situation alone!


-- 
"I have left my book,
I have left my room,
For I heard your voice
singing through the gloom" - James Joyce



More information about the Pynchon-l mailing list