Tr 2.3 - Il Papa, La Mama

[Richard Ryan]

Popes mentioned in Wyatt's mad internal rant in the opening section of TR 2.3:

Leo X
Callixtus I
Pius IX (Wyatt calls him Pio Nono)
Alexander VI

These are the ones that I've found; there may be others.  Alexander
the VI (the last of the Borgia popes) especially from this list is
famous for his misbehavior.

Unlike Elliot, whose quarrel with modern culture was more metaphysical
and generic, Gaddis allows his characters to work through classically
Freudian complaints. I so far am reading Wyatt as a man burdened with
a variety of daddy and mommy issues.

The Popes, like the Reverend Gwyon, are at their base hopelessly
incommensurate and corrupt.   The Virgin Mother, like Camilla Gwyon,
is perfect, but utterly remote and unobtainable.

For a stunning rendition of the Stabat Mater ("There stood the
Mother...") listen to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNt13Vw-K6Q


-- 
Richard Ryan
New York and the World
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the conditions that surround
him. The unreasonable man adapts surrounding conditions to himself.
All progress depends on the unreasonable man." - Shaw