Mason & Dixon Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 14 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Mason & Dixon.
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Mason & Dixon Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 14 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Mason & Dixon.
This section contains 339 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Mason & Dixon Short Guide

Mason & Dixon Summary & Study Guide Description

Mason & Dixon Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. This study guide contains the following sections:

This detailed literature summary also contains Related Titles on Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon.

Preview of Mason & Dixon Summary:

The theme of isolation and alienation is a thread running throughout the book.

Isolation in Capetown drives the Vroom family to religious hypocrisy and sexual immorality. Isolation on St. Helena drives Nevil Maskelyne to eccentricity and paranoia. Isolation on the frontier drives settlers like the Paxton brothers to violence and depravity.

Journeys are also a major theme. During the course of their journeys to three continents, Mason and Dixon encounter different cultures, new foods, poems, and music sung by sailors, workers, and famous people. It is "like a stew being stirred around," says Dixon. They encounter many political, scientific, and religious arguments. However, none of these journeys resolve personal conflicts that confound Mason or Dixon.

Another theme is that of boundaries.

The Visto, or Mason Dixon line, between Pennsylvania and Maryland creates an unnatural boundary, as opposed to the natural boundaries of mountains and rivers. Even as the...

This section contains 339 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy the Mason & Dixon Short Guide
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Mason & Dixon from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.