VV(11): Fingernails

[David Morris]

>From: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
>----------
> >From: "David Morris" <fqmorris at hotmail.com>
> >
> > Why discount such an obvious incongruity: there is no indication that 
>they know each other in this segment.
>
>The fact that they met and had an affair back in 1954, recounted in some 
>detail in the very first chapter of the novel, is certainly an indication, 
>isn't it?

I did say "in this segment," and "incongruity."  We know about their past 
(although "affair" doesn't seem the right word since they never had sex) 
which is why this segment is puzzling.

>benny's "umbilical string is reconnected" at 217.10, which connects with 
>the "umbilical tug" at 29.30. Rachel's first words to him("It's about 
>time") express both her impatience and her self-assurance, and indicate 
>that she is fully aware of who he is.

That's one way to see it.  In the most literal sense she is refering to how 
long it took him to get to her desk after being called while trying to hide 
his hard-on.  The umbilical yo-yo string is clearly there also, but the 
string seems to be attached to Benny's penis, which makes the pull come from 
any number of women, though Rachel seems to exert the most force.

And although you've found a way (which doesn't "ring true" to me) to explain 
what I see as their lack of recognition of each other, I still think it odd 
that neither says "Hi.  Glad to see you. Where've you been....etc."  The 
only sign of this I see is Rachel's ordering him about, which could come as 
much from her being in a superior position than from aquaintance.

David Morris
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