GRGR(4)

[Andrew Dinn]

ckaratnytsky at nypl.org writes:

>      Anyway, I don't want to overemphasize the light touch of this scene 
>      because, surely, there *is* a hint of the darker things to come and, 
>      in general, there *is* a strong mood of wistfulness associated with 
>      these two, but -- the shock and loss that Roger experiences later is 
>      made all the more poignant because of certain...assumptions (for lack 
>      of a better word) he makes now.

Oh yes, those `assumptions'. Which Jessica does not attempt to
challenge and cut down to size but can only be all too aware of.

>      It may be sympathetic defensiveness on my part, but I would disagree 
>      with Andrew's assessment of Jess as "cruel."  The more I think about 
>      what appears to be the strange dichotomy in this character, the more 
>      human she becomes to me.

Well, cruel might just be helpless or unable to make the man
understand what is at stake or whatever. Naturally, being somewhat
more of a Roger than Chris I see `cruelty'. Likewise, Chris being more
of a Jessica than I am finds `humanity'. Not sure I can see the
difference, having never personally been to Hell and back. And then
what with the state of the market in nihilism these days, I could
hardly think otherwise.

Maybe I don't watch enough soap operas or something but this
Roger-Jessica thing is really gripping, so real, so convincing. Does
it really require a war for this sort of thing to happen. (I realise
it helps but . . .) Seems more like a page straight out of TRP's home
life (or lack thereof). Roger's presuming is so typically male - well
at least typical of the sort of male I am, anyway. And Jess's reaction
is something I have seen happen so often, including happening to me in
the past. However much the war contributed to setting up the
circumstances for Roger, Jessica and Beaver's awkward triangle to be
born and grow, its precise character, its articulation, is nothing to
do with the war and everything to do with Roger and Jess's character.
Roger says `the war is my mother' but doesn't answer whether his
mother knows he is out and about getting himself into scrapes. I
suspect his mother has no idea of what he actually gets up to.


Andrew Dinn
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And though Earthliness forget you,
To the stilled Earth say:  I flow.
To the rushing water speak:  I am.