lies back and takes it

[David Morris]

Paul's right here, but with Benny another, less noble, motive is at work, which
is akin to Peter-Panism, but Benny calls it schlemielhood.  He can't/won't
accept responsibility for supporting a relationship.  All he can do is take,
not give, so he won't even get started down that path.  That has a very limited
noblility, not wanting to just take, but it is self-defeating and life-robbing.

David Morris

--- Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net> wrote:
> Jane Sweet wrote: (cuts)
> > He rejects Paola, Fina, now Mafia. What's up with Benny.
> > Doesn't he want to get any?
> > What is it about Rachel that's different? A true wind up
> > girl?
> 
> Benny and Sphere may be less representatives of true male lack of
> religiion when satisfaction of carnal appetites is at stake and more in
> the literary  and movie tradition of not taking random advantage of low
> status women or even spoiled rich girls who may not quite know what they
> are doing. It was the code of behavior  practiced by, say,  Humphrey
> Bogart with regard to the dimwitted  little sister in "The Big Sleep"
> and why Jimmy Stewart did not have sex with the very drunk and willing
> Katherine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story."  (there are some things a
> gentleman doesn't do sez Jimmy and Frank Sinatra too in a remake) It's
> possibly  akin to what young Pynchon might have felt  set he himself
> apart from the Crew,  the Pig Bodines and the college kids.  Even Mafia
> might qualify for immune status from what  certainly would not have been
> exploitation.  If Rachel does not qaulify (I don't quite remember)--well
> it's the exception that tests the rule. Or maybe it's true love . . .
> .There is such a thing, Jane dear.
> 
>                                                     P.
> 
> 


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