Airship of Fools

[Michael Bailey]

 Bled Welder wrote:
>
> Any characters in Pynchon's work that can be said to represent the Madman,
> the Fool, the Simpleton, Folly?
>

there's a strong case to be made for both Benny Profane and Slothrop
wearing the fool's cap; Denis in IV has a small but juicy "fool" role
as well...

what is a fool then?  great Foucault quote, goes a long way toward
explaining why the BP and Slothrop characters are so satisfying in the
type of book they are in...