The Wreck of the Read. chap 3

[Mark Kohut]

Another perfect find and comment I recognize as good as exactly...

Thanks.



----- Original Message ----
From: Jed Kelestron <jedkelestron at gmail.com>
To: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Sat, April 30, 2011 3:09:43 PM
Subject: Re: The Wreck of the Read. chap 3

Esther's narcissism is articulated literally at 88.11ff:

. . . she standing behind him could see no further than the portrait,
held by the likeness as happened so often but seldom so clearly,
finding resemblances to herself everywhere as though she set out from
the start seeking identity with misfortune, recognition in disaster.

Perhaps one of the 'recognitions' is our own reflection in the pool of
reality. There are mirrors in the arms of the cross. Wyatt's studio
mirror is for correcting mistakes. Esther's is draped with a
handkerchief.