Fwd: Re: GR-Translation: the children of that other domestic incarnation

[Paul Mackin]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Re: GR-Translation: the children of that other domestic 
incarnation
Date: 	Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:56:20 -0400
From: 	Paul Mackin <mackin.paul at verizon.net>
To: 	Mike Jing <mikezjing at hotmail.com>



On 9/4/2011 1:31 PM, Mike Jing wrote:
>>  Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 12:01:37 -0400
>>  From: mackin.paul at verizon.net
>>
>>  I take "incarnation" to be used in a non-standard way--as the conversion
>>  of one substance or form into another. Thus, the first incarnation
>>  (being discussed) is the conversion of scrap into war materiel. The
>>  "other incarnation" that comes to mind is the conversion of children
>>  into food as related in the Old Marchen. Both smoke and shrieking would
>>  certainly figure in the latter.
>  >   From the immediate context, it seems obvious to me that it is the metal in the old toothpaste tubes that is being reincarnated.  Then its previous incarnation would simply be toothpaste tubes, which is a domestic product, as opposed to those of war.  Of course, it's not entirely clear whether this is the "other domestic incarnation" Pynchon was talking about.  If this is the case though, its children could be referring to the bubbles produced when the toothpaste was used.  Then again, I am not sure if that makes any sense either.

I'm not particularly wedded to my suggested interpretation, but, to
continue, I think the children in the "other domestic incarnation" are
different children from the children brushing their teeth.

>
>>  The word "domestic" may relate to the fact that both scrap collection
>>  and the folklore take place at the household level. (house in the forest)
>  >   From the next sentence: "Yet the continuity, flesh to kindred metals, home to hedgeless sea, has persisted." it seems Pynchon was still talking about toothpaste and toothpaste tubes, people (children) who use them, and bubbles, at least on the surface.

The likeness between the two "incarnations" is emphasized.  The
recycling of metal and the recycling of the children.  Both recyclings
are in the service of "The War."  Each is one of the many separate parts
of the machine that The War is.  The vastness of The War is what this
paragraph seemed to be pretty much about.
>
>>  Don't know about smokeshriek (no clue) but it's certainly possible to
>>  interpret the children, the witch and the oven as a foreshadowing of the
>>  Holocaust. Both Pynchon's version and its forerunners. I'm guessing
>>  some commentators have done so. (Besides Doug)
>>
>>  Anyway, it remains a puzzler.
>  Hmm...  How am I going to translate that?  I assume it is not found in any dictionary.

I appreciate the problem and sympathize.

P
>
>
>    		 	   		


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