Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice

Is the world simply filled with overwhelming senses of coincide and deja vu? Or is the world fundamentally controlled by nefarious groups—sometimes large, sometimes small? Pynchon believes that the world answers to the latter understanding. 

When Larry “Doc” Sportello takes interest in a case from his former “old lady,” he runs into a series of events that point to a conspiracy. The worlds of the Aryan Brotherhood, corrupt members of the LAPD, a drug-dealing/tax-shelter corporation of dentists, a land developer who recently found a conscience, and various ex-cons intersect throughout the novel.  Too often, the novel wants us to question whether or not there are connections to be made, or if we are too eager to see something; our questions come through Doc, as he is not often sure if things are as they might seem—is it coincidence, dumb luck, or is he simply hallucinating from a new or old trip?

Whether or not these events and parties are actually coincidental or part of the vast conspiracy, Inherent Vice knows that the connections only matter through the eyes of Doc. He is adamant that the world needs to care about these connections, and he is certainly of a mind to look after all the people who he comes across. He cares deeply about the world, and he cares that people are happy. Pynchon’s novel appears to end hopefully, but it also recognizes the dominance of capitalism and consumer society that will overwhelm the human-connectedness of society.