GR translation: The physical grace to keep it working
Mark Kohut
mark.kohut at gmail.com
Fri Apr 22 12:42:01 CDT 2016
fine. I read it as the way he flew....leave it out as a non-sequitor to the
meaning of physical grace if you want.
On Fri, Apr 22, 2016 at 8:40 AM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> Nope. Dumbo was always able to fly without the feather. The feather was
> a vehicle for him to BELIEVE he could fly. Eventually he could BELIEVE
> (and thus fly) without the feather.
>
> David Morris
>
> On Fri, Apr 22, 2016 at 5:01 AM, Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I do not know how it might matter for translation but I think the
>> estimable MOrris is wrong by about 180 degrees here. I think the word
>> physical before grace signals a non-religious meaning--unlike most of TRP's
>> uses of the word " grace".
>>
>> I think it means an athletic like coordination. See the move to Dumbo
>> flying in he text.
>>
>> One definition from a Google Books search is graciousness ( in movement).
>> In another book, The Letters of FS Fitzgerald, he uses the phrase in a
>> letter to a ( young) woman who he thinks has bad posture and also can't
>> dance well. another cited usage comes from a book on Goethe and his
>> culture, from a Schiller essay evidently.
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Apr 22, 2016, at 4:10 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Understood. Thanks, Robert and David.
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 3:15 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> This is a really big and deep topic, but let's keep it as simple as we
>>> can with this passage of GR.
>>>
>>> I think the usage of "grace" here is most related to the religious
>>> definition: "unmerited divine assistance given humans." Adding "physical"
>>> makes it something manifested into the world, not merely an internal
>>> condition. And in this context it implies becoming, physically manifesting
>>> as, an agent (angel? prophet?) of God, even unwittingly so: "A-and it
>>> doesn’t even matter why we’re doing this, either. Rocky? Yeah, what we need
>>> isn’t right reasons, but just that grace."
>>>
>>> David Morris
>>>
>>> http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace
>>>
>>> Full Definition of grace
>>>
>>> 1a : unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or
>>> sanctification. b: a virtue coming from God. c: a state of
>>> sanctification enjoyed through divine grace.
>>>
>>> 2a : approval, favor <stayed in his goodgraces>b archaic : mercy,
>>> pardonc : a special favor : privilege <each in his place, by right, not
>>> grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kipling>d : disposition to or an
>>> act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemencye : a temporary
>>> exemption : reprieve
>>>
>>> 3a : a charming or attractive trait or characteristicb : a pleasing
>>> appearance or effect : charm <all the grace of youth — John Buchan>c :
>>> ease and suppleness of movement or bearing
>>>
>>> 4—used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an
>>> archbishop
>>>
>>> 5: a short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks
>>>
>>> 6plural capitalized : three sister goddesses in Greek mythology who are
>>> the givers of charm and beauty
>>>
>>> 7: a musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura
>>>
>>> 8a : sense of propriety or right <had the grace not to run for elective
>>> office — Calvin Trillin>b : the quality or state of being considerate or
>>> thoughtful
>>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 1:51 PM, Robert Mahnke <rpmahnke at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> "Physical" is not a word you would ordinarily see before "grace," and I
>>>> think the juxtaposition doesn't change the latter so much as to try to make
>>>> it more concrete, real. Not sure the meaning would change much at all if
>>>> "physical" were simply omitted.
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 3:33 AM, Mike Jing <
>>>> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> V741.27-34, P756.13-20 He went out socked Them right in the toilet
>>>>> privacy of Their banks. Who cares what he was thinking about, long as it
>>>>> didn’t get in the way? A-and it doesn’t even matter why we’re doing this,
>>>>> either. Rocky? Yeah, what we need isn’t right reasons, but just that grace.
>>>>> The physical grace to keep it working. Courage, brains, sure, O.K., but
>>>>> without that grace? forget it Do you—please, are you listening? This thing
>>>>> here works. Really does. It worked for me, but I’m out of the Dumbo stage
>>>>> now, I can fly without it. But you. Rocky. You . . . .”
>>>>>
>>>>> What does "physical grace" refer to here?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://waste.org/pipermail/pynchon-l/attachments/20160422/aa6eb6c0/attachment.html>
More information about the Pynchon-l
mailing list