TR Gaddis tears into Dale Carnegie Pt 2 ch 1

[cfabel]

As I read of Pivner, Heracles wrestling Antaios earlier on in the work keeps
coming to mind for some reason. Perhaps, "When the fight begins within
himself, a man's worth something" (Browning) and he doesn't wrestle all that
is "set-against" him, just "sags..untroubled?" 

C. F. Abel
Chair
Department of Government
Stephen F. Austin State University
Nacogdoches, Texas 75962
(936) 468-3903




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On Behalf
Of Jed Kelestron
Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 9:33 AM
To: pynchon -l
Subject: Re: TR Gaddis tears into Dale Carnegie Pt 2 ch 1

Gaddis was using Jung's _The Integration of the Personality_ as a resource
while writing TR. There he would have read the position that the ego is the
center of the conscious personality, and the self is the center and
circumference of the total (conscious + unconscious) personality. An
individual is a unique indivisible unit in whom the ego is dethroned and
lives in service of and relation to the self.
What is described in the Pivner passage is a formula for maintaining the
kingship of the male ego, relegating self to complete unconsciousness.

"It is one of the most ridiculous illusions of civilized man that the
"perils of the soul" have entirely disappeared along with primitive
superstitions. Even the primitive superstitions have not disappeared from
any civilized nation as a whole. They have only changed their names, and
often not even that. The clan of uprooted intellectual highbrows usually
goes on believing in permanent and universal enlightenment. That technical
progress and social improvements do not mean psychological differentiation
or a higher level of consciousness is a lesson we are unwilling to learn.
The enormous increase of technical facilities only serves to occupy the mind
with all sorts of sensations and impressions that lure the attention and
interest from the inner world. The relentless flood of newspapers, radio
programs, and movies may widen or fill the external mind, while at the same
time, and in the same measure, consciousness of the inner world becomes
darkened and may disappear altogether. But "forgetting" is not identical
with "getting rid of." On the contrary, the situation has become worse:
instead of facing the enemy, we risk being attacked from the rear, where we
are unaware and defenceless."

                  (The Integration of the Personality, pp. 9-10)

Amidst the barrage of ads from his radio in the background, "[...] (Mr.
Pivner) sagged and stared at the newspaper, untroubled by the notion that
this (a fart) might have been a demon leaving its residence inside him. Not
only would he, albeit embarrassed, scoff at this medieval reality; [...] he
could believe that he would not have believed, but would have stood forth,
as he was submerged now, in
Reason."   (289.7ff)