Difference between revisions of "Princess Casamassima"
(New page: Published 1886 (James had published two others by 1893), a classic dealing with terrorists, anarchists, and bombings. [http://www.henryjames.org.uk/pcasa/home.htm Full text] Sequel to "Rod...) |
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| − | Published 1886 (James had published two others by 1893), a classic dealing with terrorists, anarchists, and bombings. [http:// | + | Published 1886 (James had published two others by 1893), a classic dealing with terrorists, anarchists, and bombings. It was the sequel to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roderick_Hudson ''Roderick Hudson'']. It's the only Henry James novel in which he takes on such overtly political subjects, the only one which deals with violent extremes of human behavior. |
| − | :Thematically, it's reactionary, the opposite of AtD. | + | |
| + | :Thematically, it's reactionary, the opposite of AtD. | ||
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:ATD is not reactionary but also not the opposite of ''The Princess Casamassima'' thematically, it can be easily argued. | :ATD is not reactionary but also not the opposite of ''The Princess Casamassima'' thematically, it can be easily argued. | ||
| − | Pugnax prefers in his reading "sentimental tales about his own species [rather] than those exhibiting extremes of human behavior, which he appeared to find a bit lurid." It seems Pynchon is slyly commenting on James' ''The Princess Casamassima'' here in that that James novel DID deal with | + | Pugnax prefers in his reading "sentimental tales about his own species [rather] than those exhibiting extremes of human behavior, which he appeared to find a bit lurid." ([[ATD_1-25#Page_5|p.5]]) It seems Pynchon is slyly commenting on James' ''The Princess Casamassima'' here in that that James novel DID deal with "extremes of human behaviour" yet Pugnax prefers "sentimental tales"! |
| − | Or: it is a theme in | + | As many who have had dogs know, often when raised from puppyhood with loving owners, they "think they are human." Pugnax learns where to pee off the gondola - a pretty natural function for a dog - "like the rest of the crew." |
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| + | Or: it is a theme in [http://gravitys-rainbow.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/ ''Gravity's Rainbow''], that the book, writing itself, is an abstraction from experience and not, of course, the thing itself. Noseworth, "who placed upon the word 'book' ... contempt" did, however, know the subject matter of ''The Princess Casamassima''. He, Noseworth, hopes they will "suffer no occasion for exposure more immediate than that to be experienced, as with Pugnax at this moment, safely within the leaves of some book." It matters that the Chums ARE also characters in books of their adventures. | ||
It should also be noted that ''The Princess Casamassima'' is one of the rare characters in James' novels who appears in more than one work. She was originally a character in the 1875 novel ''Roderick Hudson'', where her name was, quite fittingly, Christina Light. | It should also be noted that ''The Princess Casamassima'' is one of the rare characters in James' novels who appears in more than one work. She was originally a character in the 1875 novel ''Roderick Hudson'', where her name was, quite fittingly, Christina Light. | ||
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| + | ==Other Resources== | ||
| + | [http://www.henryjames.org.uk/pcasa/home.htm Full text of ''The Princess Casamassima''] | ||
Revision as of 12:22, 27 October 2007
Published 1886 (James had published two others by 1893), a classic dealing with terrorists, anarchists, and bombings. It was the sequel to Roderick Hudson. It's the only Henry James novel in which he takes on such overtly political subjects, the only one which deals with violent extremes of human behavior.
- Thematically, it's reactionary, the opposite of AtD.
- ATD is not reactionary but also not the opposite of The Princess Casamassima thematically, it can be easily argued.
Pugnax prefers in his reading "sentimental tales about his own species [rather] than those exhibiting extremes of human behavior, which he appeared to find a bit lurid." (p.5) It seems Pynchon is slyly commenting on James' The Princess Casamassima here in that that James novel DID deal with "extremes of human behaviour" yet Pugnax prefers "sentimental tales"!
As many who have had dogs know, often when raised from puppyhood with loving owners, they "think they are human." Pugnax learns where to pee off the gondola - a pretty natural function for a dog - "like the rest of the crew."
Or: it is a theme in Gravity's Rainbow, that the book, writing itself, is an abstraction from experience and not, of course, the thing itself. Noseworth, "who placed upon the word 'book' ... contempt" did, however, know the subject matter of The Princess Casamassima. He, Noseworth, hopes they will "suffer no occasion for exposure more immediate than that to be experienced, as with Pugnax at this moment, safely within the leaves of some book." It matters that the Chums ARE also characters in books of their adventures.
It should also be noted that The Princess Casamassima is one of the rare characters in James' novels who appears in more than one work. She was originally a character in the 1875 novel Roderick Hudson, where her name was, quite fittingly, Christina Light.
