Discussion Four – Infinite Jest - Page 299 - 418

[Jim]

This discussion covers Page 299 – 418

Begins: “14 NOVEMBER YEAR OF THE DEPEND ADULT UNDERGARMENT Poor Tony Krause had a seizure on the T.”

Poor Tony Krause tries on actual Withdrawal and realizes it’s not a good look for him. Prorector Mlle. Thierry Potrincourt’s Saturday class ‘Separatism and Return: Québecois History from Frontenac Through the Age of Interdependence’ gives Hal a queasy feeling especially when Orin calls for intellectual back-up on possible motives of the various Separatist cells, with said questions posed as a supposed strategy to help Orin get into the panties-and-a-half of Subject-and-a-half Helen Steeply, which we can only suspect will present quite a sexual dilemma to poor horny Orin should he succeed with said strategy, since it smells like love, and yet, there seems to be more to these questions than just a lengthy end note. A detailed account of Mario’s entry into and movements through the Incandenza family universe. Marathe and Steeply delve deeply into Freedom to Choose. An epic Eschaton game devolves into Armageddon when a disagreement over the question of Map v. Territory gets physical. Don Gately takes us on a lurid guided tour of the Boston AA Commitment circuit. Lyle and Himself get drunk in the weight room, Himself on Wild Turkey, Lyle via lingual-contact-high, so to speak. During the annual Continental Interdependence Day celebration/sugar binge, E.T.A. Staff and students watch Mario’s video puppet play and relive highlights of the formation of O.N.A.N., as presented in Mario’s much-condensed version of Himself’s The ONANtiad.


To avoid spoilers, please limit your comments to page 299 – 418 (and the earlier pages).

[Sentimental Surrealist]

The puppet show is amazing, not just for the satire but for sheer attention to detail. Plus it's nice to see Mario showing a little bit of bite.

[Doubledf99.99]

Liked the reference to Rolling Thunder to Orin's booming punts. Took me by surprise..