What is a reliable narrator?

[David Morris]

The unreliable narrator concept can be useful, but in this case it not only
doesn't apply, it shuts down discussion, because everything can be
discounted by it.  And in GR's case the narrator is the conveyor of the
whole novel.  No character speaks to us directly, but the narrator does so
often/always. He does reveal that GR characters often have unreliable
perceptions, beliefs, delusions, etc.  THAT is the point that should be
discussed.

David Morris

On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, ish mailian <ishmailian at gmail.com> wrote:

>
> The term was used, not by me, but by at least two people in the discussion
> of Slothrop's background. I'm merely trying to follow the discussion. I
> asked, not to argue that there is or isn't a reliable narrator or more than
> one, or about the term or it's use, or to argue for the use of some other
> term, but merely to improve my understanding of what I find a very
> interesting discussion.
>
> The people discussing Slothrop may use any term they chose to. I just want
> to know what is meant when they use it.
>
>
> On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','fqmorris at gmail.com');>> wrote:
>
>> Would you like to describe the meaning/difference? GR has a narrator
>> (maybe numerous ones), but Slothrup isn't one of them.
>>
>> David Morris
>>
>> On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, Gary Webb <gwebb8686 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Maybe Narrator isn't the right word, how about interlocutor...?
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>> On Apr 6, 2016, at 6:32 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> The current thread has provided no examples of Slothrup narrating, as
>>> far as I can tell.  Can you provide some text as example?
>>>
>>> David Morris
>>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 5:28 PM, ish mailian <ishmailian at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> see current thread under this subject where examples are provided and
>>>> the question of reliability is discussed.
>>>>
>>>> BtZ42, 21: Slothrop backstory in UK
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 4:45 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> > Please show an example of Slothrup narrating.  Then we can discuss the
>>>> > reliablility of said narration.  Otherwise, this is a worthless
>>>> question.
>>>> >
>>>> > David Morris
>>>> >
>>>> > On Wed, Apr 6, 2016 at 3:36 PM, ish mailian <ishmailian at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Anyone care to explain?
>>>> >> What do posters mean when thy say Slothrop is a reliable narrator?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Hard to find anything we can rely on in this book, so if have a
>>>> >> reliable narrator in Slothrop, if, we have something to hang our hats
>>>> >> on. Right?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Papa wasa rolling stone.....
>>>> >> -
>>>> >> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> -
>>>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>>>>
>>>
>>>
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