VV(9) - Evan & Hugh

[Michael Perez]

David wrote:
"Evan's oafishness is pointedly and consciously
Anti-Establish(mentarianism-whatever-ment).  His is decidedly 'anti.' 
He has no defined 'pro' beyond a desire 'to be left alone to never "do
well" in his own way.'

"This is not a lack of motivation, exactly.  It is a motivation to
maintain an individual freedom unencumbered with the demands of 'The
Establishment,' Peter-Pan-Esque...

"But Evan's yearnings for that missing 'something which should have
existed, but did not,' is enough to overcome his 'heart's vagrancy.' 
Evan is truly searching for the bonds of _relationship_, the lack of
which is the root of his determined rebellion.  The implication here is
that Evan's determined vagrancy is born of an anger, an injury, usually
called rejection:  a need un-met: that of a loving father (and his
mother never mentioned).  This need is 'catholic.'

"Is this all Stencil's need?  Maybe.  But for me the message is more 
important than the messenger.  FORGET REALITY!!!  Reality in this text
is unattainable, but the message survives.  Reality is the hob-goblin
of little minds."

Yes, but it is Stencil's message.  We hear of Evan only through Stencil
and, yes, this "searching for the bonds of _relationship_" is Stencil's
need.  The way Stencil relates Evans exploits is the way Stencil wants
to be remembered with regard to his belated loyalty to his father's
legacy.  The intrigue he tracks down has already run its course.  The
history he tracks down is incomplete as all history is.  Part of what
Stencil allows us to realize is that reality related in the form of
history is "unattainable," as you say.

Michael

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