VLVL [8] When BV possessed her

[David Casseres]

Paul Mackin sez
>This is an interesting topic and one I've irresponsibly partaken of by
>suggesting both sexual perversion and demonic possession on the part of
>Frenesi. Doug feels strongly about the slavery thing and David C has
>mentioned it also. But in addition to sexual possession, demonic
>possession and chattel possession isn't there a still additional possible
>relevant usage of the word here. Cannot this opening sentence of the
>chapter merely be asking whether Brock ever really held  Frenesi's
>allegiance and loyalty.  Kind of benign I know.

But perfectly relevant.  I think that in all his books, Pynchon is very
interested in the way allegiance and loyalty, slavery, demonic/spiritual
possession, and sexual possession/bondage can take on each other's
identities and even become interchangeable in the presence of enough human
perversity.

Did Brock Vond ever really possess Frenesi's allegiance and loyalty?  He
would say yes.  I bet she would say yes also.  But would either of them
mean anything *really different* from sexual dominance or personal slavery?
Does either of them really understand such a difference?  Can we, given
their positions and personalities?

And where, in this stew of inequalities, is love (which Pynchon is always
thinking about)?  Is that really what Zoyd has for Frenesi?  Is it really
what Prairie wants from Frenesi?  Perhaps it's really only between Zoyd and
Prairie that love occurs, because they are equals in power.

>Although it may never be spelled out I must admit that I wish we could see
>Frenesi as some kind of a double agent (or triple depending on where you
>start counting) like Katje was. No chance I guess.

Katje could only be a double -- as opposed to being strictly a possession
of Blicero -- because she not only left his presence but the whole country
where he could exercise power.  Frenesi's in a much bigger country, one
which she apparently has no thought of leaving, and Vond (until the end)
seems to have the power to control her via the government.
Cheers,
David