M&D Spoiler--Question p. 699

[doktor at primenet.com]

M&D

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M&D

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I loved the scene where Quaker Dixon kicks the slavedriver's ass, frees the
slaves (though even they know it's cinderella liberty), grabs the whip
(which becomes a family McGuffin) and then has to get out of Dodge ASAP.
Pynchon can write action like this very well, though he does so
infrequently.

There are a lot of things to say about this scene, and I'm still working
out all the implications, but in the meantime, I have a question for those
assembled.  When Dixon threatens to kill the slavedriver, he begs for
mercy:

"'No!  Please!  My little ones!  O Tiffany!  Jason!'

'Any more?'

'--Soames!'"

What's the significance of these names?  My puzzlement on this point was
compounded by the Washington Post review of M&D by Michael Dirda, which
_misquotes_ this dialogue.  Dirda writes:

"When Dixon angrily frees some slaves, he decides to whip, maybe even kill,
their swaggering, foul-mouthed exploiter, who immediately crumples and
pleads, 'No!  Please!  My little ones!  O Tiffany!  Jason! . . . Scott!'"

Can someone provide a reference, and speculate on what Dirda was thinking?

--Jimmy

  http://www.angelfire.com/oh/Insouciance/