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The Mailer Review/Volume 2, 2008/A New Politics of Form in Harlot's Ghost: Difference between revisions
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Close to the end of the novel, Hubbard has some disconcerting thoughts. In a conversation with Bill Harvey (a fictional character based on the real CIA station chief) suspicion is cast upon the loyalty of Hugh Montague, a.k.a. Harlot, who has been the primary influence over Harry’s career. Could Harlot, one of the most powerful leaders of the CIA, actually be a Soviet agent? This would make Harlot the complete opposite of everything he appears to be and would call into question all the values and ideology that Harry Hubbard assumes. In addition, since Harlot explains all of his efforts in Manichean terms of serving God against the Devil (echoes of Mailer), and if Harlot is a Soviet agent, then the absolute values assumed throughout the novel, and taught by Harlot, either collapse into nihilism and become self-serving or reverse their position: God representing democracy and capitalism is really evil and the Devil of Communism is really good. This has become a possibility that Harry’s experience with the CIA, particularly his truly disastrous efforts to overthrow the Cuban revolution and assassinate Fidel Castro, makes him inclined to consider seriously if the God of Capitalism is really the God or the Devil. How the entire novel is to be understood rests upon what side, if any, Harlot really serves. | Close to the end of the novel, Hubbard has some disconcerting thoughts. In a conversation with Bill Harvey (a fictional character based on the real CIA station chief) suspicion is cast upon the loyalty of Hugh Montague, a.k.a. Harlot, who has been the primary influence over Harry’s career. Could Harlot, one of the most powerful leaders of the CIA, actually be a Soviet agent? This would make Harlot the complete opposite of everything he appears to be and would call into question all the values and ideology that Harry Hubbard assumes. In addition, since Harlot explains all of his efforts in Manichean terms of serving God against the Devil (echoes of Mailer), and if Harlot is a Soviet agent, then the absolute values assumed throughout the novel, and taught by Harlot, either collapse into nihilism and become self-serving or reverse their position: God representing democracy and capitalism is really evil and the Devil of Communism is really good. This has become a possibility that Harry’s experience with the CIA, particularly his truly disastrous efforts to overthrow the Cuban revolution and assassinate Fidel Castro, makes him inclined to consider seriously if the God of Capitalism is really the God or the Devil. How the entire novel is to be understood rests upon what side, if any, Harlot really serves. | ||
Harry remembers a conversation with Harlot about God and Evolution. Evolution threatens the theory of divine creation. In response, Harlot proposes the theory that God tricks man by setting up false appearances for | |||
Harry remembers a conversation with Harlot about God and Evolution. | |||
Evolution threatens the theory of divine creation. In response, Harlot proposes the theory that God tricks man by setting up false appearances for | |||
God’s protection to secure his function. Evolution explains things, but is a | God’s protection to secure his function. Evolution explains things, but is a | ||
“cover story” designed by God to confuse man. Harlot reasons: “ ‘You can say | “cover story” designed by God to confuse man. Harlot reasons: “ ‘You can say | ||
the universe is a splendidly-worked up system of disinformation calculated | the universe is a splendidly-worked up system of disinformation calculated | ||
to make us believe in evolution and so divert us away from God. Yes, that is | to make us believe in evolution and so divert us away from God. Yes, that is | ||
exactly what I would do if I were the Lord and could not trust My own creation.’ ” | exactly what I would do if I were the Lord and could not trust My own creation.’ ” (1281). This disconcerts Harry considerably since he is Harlot’s creation. Has the entire Cold War, or at least his part of it, been a massive | ||
disinformation campaign? If so, has Hubbard been serving good ~God! or | disinformation campaign? If so, has Hubbard been serving good ~God! or | ||
the ~Devil!, and do these values reside in capitalism or communism, or some | the ~Devil!, and do these values reside in capitalism or communism, or some | ||