Thomas Pynchon and the Postmodern Mythology of the Underworld

356 Pages·2012·2.306 MB·English

by  Evans Lansing Smith

Smith_DD_Hardcover:HAKUTANI.QXD 8/8/2012 7:17 AM Page 1
62
62
Thomas Pynchon and the Postmodern Mythology of the Underworld is devoted
to the work of one of the most highly acclaimed writers of the post-World War S
M
II period of American literature, Thomas Pynchon. Through close readings and
I
broad amplification, this book illustrates that the descent to the underworld is T
H
the single most important myth in Pynchon’s work, conferring shape and signif-
Thomas Pynchon
icance upon each of his novels. This book also offers a unique perspective on
T
postmodernism, which is characterized by ludic syncretism—the playful synthe- h
o
sis of myths from a variety of cultures. In addition, Thomas Pynchon and the
m
Postmodern Mythology of the Underworld is a major contribution to the study a and the
s
of myth and literature as a whole, through the definition of what Evans Lansing P
y
Smith calls necrotypes—archetypal images catalyzed by the mythology of the
n
c
underworld.
h
o Postmodern
This book employs an interdisciplinary methodology that will be of criti-
n

cal interest to scholars of comparative literature, mythology, and religion; to theo- a
n
rists and critics of modernism and postmodernism; to depth psychologists in the d

t
traditions of Jung, Freud, and James Hillman; as well as to the broad base of h
Mythology
e
Pynchon enthusiasts and exponents of popular culture.
P
o
s
t
m
o of the Underworld
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Evans Lansing Smithis Chair of the Mythological Studies e
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Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He received his

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B.A. in English from Williams College, his M.A. in creative
y
writing from Antioch International, and his M.A. and Ph.D. t
h
o
in comparative literature from The Claremont Graduate
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o
School. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles g
y
on comparative literature and mythology and has taught at
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colleges and universities in Switzerland, Maryland, California, and Texas (where f

t
h
he received the 2003 Hardin Distinguished Professor Award at Midwestern
e

State University). U
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e
r
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d
P
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A Evans Lansing Smith
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www.peterlang.com
Smith_DD_Hardcover:HAKUTANI.QXD 8/8/2012 7:17 AM Page 1
62
Thomas Pynchon and the Postmodern Mythology of the Underworld is devoted
to the work of one of the most highly acclaimed writers of the post-World War
II period of American literature, Thomas Pynchon. Through close readings and
broad amplification, this book illustrates that the descent to the underworld is
the single most important myth in Pynchon’s work, conferring shape and signif-
Thomas Pynchon
icance upon each of his novels. This book also offers a unique perspective on
postmodernism, which is characterized by ludic syncretism—the playful synthe-
sis of myths from a variety of cultures. In addition, Thomas Pynchon and the
Postmodern Mythology of the Underworld is a major contribution to the study and the
of myth and literature as a whole, through the definition of what Evans Lansing
Smith calls necrotypes—archetypal images catalyzed by the mythology of the
underworld.
Postmodern
This book employs an interdisciplinary methodology that will be of criti-
cal interest to scholars of comparative literature, mythology, and religion; to theo-
rists and critics of modernism and postmodernism; to depth psychologists in the
traditions of Jung, Freud, and James Hillman; as well as to the broad base of
Mythology
Pynchon enthusiasts and exponents of popular culture.
of the Underworld
Evans Lansing Smithis Chair of the Mythological Studies
Program at the Pacifica Graduate Institute. He received his
B.A. in English from Williams College, his M.A. in creative
writing from Antioch International, and his M.A. and Ph.D.
in comparative literature from The Claremont Graduate
School. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles
on comparative literature and mythology and has taught at
colleges and universities in Switzerland, Maryland, California, and Texas (where
he received the 2003 Hardin Distinguished Professor Award at Midwestern
State University).
Evans Lansing Smith
www.peterlang.com
Thomas Pynchon and
the Postmodern Mythology
of the Underworld
Yoshinobu Hakutani
General Editor

Vol. 62

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Evans Lansing Smith

Thomas Pynchon and
the Postmodern Mythology
of the Underworld

PETER LANG
New York (cid:121) Washington, D.C./Baltimore (cid:121) Bern
Frankfurt (cid:121) Berlin (cid:121) Brussels (cid:121) Vienna (cid:121) Oxford
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Smith, Evans Lansing.
Thomas Pynchon and the postmodern mythology of the underworld /
Evans Lansing Smith.
p. cm. — (Modern American literature: new approaches; v. 62)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Pynchon, Thomas—Criticism and interpretation. 2. Voyages to the otherworld
in literature. 3. Gnosticism in literature. 4. Mythology in literature. I. Title.
PS3566.Y55Z884 813’.54—dc23 2012031428
ISBN 978-1-4331-2027-5 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-4539-0951-5 (e-book)
ISSN 1078-0521

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Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the “Deutsche
Nationalbibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available
on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de/.

The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence and durability
of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity
of the Council of Library Resources.

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Printed in Germany
For my Beloved Cheryle:
Belle Dame avec Merci

Table of Contents

Introduction: Necrotypes and Postmodernism................................................1

Chapter One: V................................................................................................7

Chapter Two: The Crying of Lot 49..............................................................45

Chapter Three: Gravity’s Rainbow...............................................................65

Chapter Four: Mason & Dixon....................................................................171

Chapter Five: Against the Day....................................................................215

Works Cited................................................................................................329

Index...........................................................................................................337