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The Mailer Review/Volume 2, 2008/A New Politics of Form in Harlot's Ghost: Difference between revisions
The Mailer Review/Volume 2, 2008/A New Politics of Form in Harlot's Ghost (view source)
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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.’ ” (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 | 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 the (Devil), and do these values reside in capitalism or communism, or some | ||
disinformation campaign? If so, has Hubbard been serving good (God) or | |||
the (Devil), and do these values reside in capitalism or communism, or some | |||
third way? Also, the discourse of deception should make readers of this novel | third way? Also, the discourse of deception should make readers of this novel | ||
suspicious since it suggests the novel itself might be a complex piece of trickery, precisely what the incomplete ending of the novel also suggests. If we go | suspicious since it suggests the novel itself might be a complex piece of trickery, precisely what the incomplete ending of the novel also suggests. If we go | ||
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the novel against mine. (Glenday 135)</blockquote> | the novel against mine. (Glenday 135)</blockquote> | ||
From the vantage point of “telling” the “truth of our times,” and on the level of crafting an explicit plot resolution, the novel fails. The position of the | From the vantage point of “telling” the “truth of our times,” and on the level of crafting an explicit plot resolution, the novel fails. The position of the author is in decline—at least in terms of the author as the “hero”who reveals | ||
author is in decline—at least in terms of the author as the “hero”who reveals | |||
history. Could the novel be taken as an elaborate hoax? Mailer, himself, at | history. Could the novel be taken as an elaborate hoax? Mailer, himself, at | ||
some level, recognizes that there is no novelistic resolution to the level of | some level, recognizes that there is no novelistic resolution to the level of | ||