I'm taking a master class in American literature, of which the prof is forcing us to read Gravity's Rainbow. Now, I've got nothing against Thomas Pynchon, but let's face it, it's not a book most people would read voluntarily, certainly not in Europe. But the book offers an interesting question: is it possible to rebel against "the system"?
Let's follow Pynchon's reasoning here, as it seems to be put forward in Gravity's Rainbow. I will not relate the whole story to you, suffice to say that there appears to be a conspiratory They at the head of the system we all live in. A Counterforce (Pynchon's capitalization) is created to fight, or at least resist the system. And yet, their actions amount to nothing whatsoever. Ok, so one of them has a wee on Their table. Another makes some snide remarks at a formal dinner party. That's it. Not exactly fascinating and forceful, is it?
So Pynchon's counterforce doesn't amount to much. More importantly however, and this is where it gets interesting, Pynchon seems to put forward that to rebel against the system is not possible, as it recquires an acceptance of the system. The only thing the Counterforce is doing, is to attempt to reverse the power structure to their advantage. The rebels want to become the ones in charge. That is not rebellion. That is ambition.
Of course, Gravity's Rainbow is never straightforward, and there is much more to it, but this is the gist of the argument.
So, what can we deduct then about Pynchon's opinion on resistance? Does he deny its power? Certainly not, he just points out that throughout history, rebellion has never been against the system itself. The system being a hierarchy, a power structure of Preterite and Elect. Those who have rebelled, have done so to become the Elect themselves. Never has the system been truly challenged.
Our ability to resist then is nothing but a selfish ambition. And yet, the system has seemingly been challenged in the last century. I'm talking about Marxism ofcourse. Everybody equal. Beautiful in theory, but I assume that my readers have enough historical consciousness to know where that ended. Whereas Marxism defended the idea of equality, its real-life counterpart, communism, was nothing more than the same old system in a different suit.
Resistance is not possible then. Or at least it is futile. But Marxism has its merits. If nothing else it has tought us to recognise these power structures. We may not be able to change them, but at the very least we are aware of them. And that puts us ahead of most people in history...
In Pynchon's own words:
Prophets traditionally don't last long - they are either killed outright, or given an accident serious enough to make them stop and think, and most often they do pull back. But on Byron has been visited an even better fate. He is condemned to go on forever, knowing the truth and powerless to change anything. No longer will he seek to get off the weel. His anger and frustration will grow without limit, and he will find himself, poor perverse bulb, enjoying it...
