SLPAD - 13 - A Critique of Flange

[Michael Bailey]

So the next page is Pynchon’s critique of Flange.


- still a small boy inside

- wants children

- doesn’t know why

- doesn’t want a shared life with a mature adult woman

- Nerissa is a projection of his fantasies (whether or not she’s supposed
to be imaginary)

- Pynchon’s willing to entertain the notion that these may have been his
own characteristics at the time (particularly the last item)

- but does raise the possibility that similar sex role  symbology at the
time may have been widespread.
He mentions Playboy.

 I’m always also struck with the use of the word “baby” in song and story &
popular parlance. Still frequent, but pervasive back then.