BtZ42 Section 9 (pp 53-60): Jessica wakes

[ish mailian]

This episode is a fine example of Pynchon's poetic, parodistic, power.
The fantastic doll and fairy tale imagery and language, of longing,
for memories of childhood, magically, as in Wagner's Old Norse
sources, where the Thunder rumbles with violence but can not cross the
chasm to pursue the shiledmaiden.  The village is safe.

Her village
The searchlights could stay
to light the night
and barrage balloons
to populate
fat and friendly
the daybreak
everything, even the explosions
in the distance might stay
as long as they went to no purpose
as long as no one had to die
...
couldn't it be that way?
only excitement
sound and light
a storm approaching in the summer
only kind thunder?

And while tempted to analyze J's dreams, her wish, we know its purpose
here is too pure for analysis, to pure for poison's plotting.

Its poetry mocks, makes vivid the satire, the mock erudition, its
fantasy and fantastic beauty expose the pointlessness of Pointsman,
the boyish ego of Mexico. All decoding, even yours dear read, is out
foxed by a dog that has its day.
-
Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l