mdmd(4) - Notes: Clive of India

[Meg Larson]

> 
> 
> On Sat, 19 Jul 1997, davemarc wrote:
> 
> > Possible spoiler
> 
> 
> > I thought the point was that Maskelyne benefitted from Clive's
influence,
> > and, during his more difficult periods, couldn't figure out just why
Clive
> > wasn't doing more for him.  Ultimately, though, he did advance, to
Mason's
> > consternation.  Mason realized that Clive's connections to the elite,
his
> > superiority at playing politics, did make a difference.
> > 
> > davemarc
> >
To which Rounce replied:
 
>    In a general sense, yes, (i.e Maskelyne ended up as the AR and big
> banana), but the strangeness of his behaviour (particularly on St.
> Helena) suggests something more, I think. Clive is presented as the
> panacea to all Maskelyne's ills (which, in material terms, & influence,
> he may well be). But when we realise that Clive is just as
> fucked-up as Maskelyne himself, then the limits of Clive's influence (in
> terms of helping Maskelyne become more sane through example, for 
> instance), become more obvious. (How else to explain the bizarre
> dialogue on pp.140-141, which ends with Maskelyne's incongruous
> sentimentality toward "the great Soldier whose Fate is hers.") Clive as
> double-edged enlightenment hero/addicted depressive enhances the ironies
> of the St. Helena locals (and others) assumming that Maskelyne's
> relation guarantees him a charmed life.
> 
And now I reply to the reply:
And isn't there just a hint of resentment on Maskelyne's part?  No matter
how capable he is, how intelligent he is, he still has to rely on Clive to
get ahead in life.  It's as if whatever personal pride Masky may have once
had is beside the point; perhaps M. views his relation to Clive as one of
master-subject, Granter of requests-groveller of favors.  Perhaps what
little pride he has left prevents Maskelyne from requesting favors from the
one person who can grant them.

Oh hell--what do I know?
Meg