V.V. (8) Benny

[Karen Hudes]

The righteous thing would have been to defend Fina, but he defers to Angel
as her owner of sorts (and someone to whom he is in debt). Since Benny can't
make any claim to her, and really wants nothing to do with her anymore, he
won't step in to protect her.

Compare this with his later defense of Paola against Pig Bodine. Whether
he's matured or he loves her, or just feels more of a sense of possession
this time around, the code still looms large--Benny reminds Pig that he owes
him one.

----------
>From: Michael Perez <studiovheissu at yahoo.com>
>To: Pynchon List <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>Subject: Re: V.V. (8) Benny (was Re: Violence ON Demand)
>Date: Sun, Jan 28, 2001, 9:03 AM
>

>jbor wrote:
>"I think that respect for both Fina and for Angel are uppermost in his
>mind. . . It's probably worthwhile to compare and contrast his response
>to Fina's come-on with his earlier responses to Rachel and Paola in
>this respect. Telling her not to go off 'yelling rape' to Angel he is
>certainly trying to cover his ass, but I think he proves himself a
>'friend' to both Fina and Angel in this sequence."
>
>Well, I still don't know about "uppermost in his mind," but I'm
>certainly willing to consider that Benny should be given more credit
>than even I might have been willing to allow him.  I always thought
>Benny wasn't given a fair shake in some of the Pynchcrit written about
>him, but I still don't know if I'd go this far.  What do you think of
>his reactions at the end of the chapter - to the gangbang, the beating
>and possible murder, the "code?"  COULD or SHOULD he have tried to do
>something to diffuse the situation?  And since, of course, he did
>nothing, what does this say, if anything, about his friendship?
>
>Michael
>
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