Grace via Thomas Aquinas

[Mark Kohut]

I, too, to be clear about my reading, see the ending of AtD as one of
the most profound ambiguities in (all) literature (that I know).

As Empson shows in that classic I allude to too much, Seven Types of Ambiguity,
genius writers use words, conceits, local and overarching metaphors
with profound
double (or more) meanings.

And, P, a writer who argues in all his work against either-or, his
instantiation, so to speak, of willed ambiguity, I think the ending of
AtD might be all Joseph says AND a flying off to death
as well.

 Because that does happen next chronologically to the world which the
Chums and Pynchon have created.



On 1/28/18, Joseph Tracy <brook7 at sover.net> wrote:
> My last post was interesting for me to write but too fucking long. This says
> what I have to say:
>
> What makes me see the use of the word grace at the ending of ATD as
> ambiguous rather than cynical is the transformation of the Chums over the
> course of the novel. They reject
> blind service to an unknown authority, make friends and allies of those
> being portrayed as enemies, realize their need for the feminine , both
> earthly and divine and they become more democratic and wary of war. If the
> chums represent fiction itself  or human myth making and humans highest
> dreams and insights, they have turned from being fearfully authoritarian in
> their orientation,  toward the
> fragile but hopeful vision that people can change( as many have) and find
> more compassionate and earth-friendly ways. The wiggle room for the planet
> is running out, the prophets from the future( physics, pattern recognition,
> grace) have warned us, no happy ending is guaranteed and neither smoky
> glasses nor Krav Maga will save the children  or stop the rising tide.
>
>
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
-
Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l