VV (16) Rachel and Fina

[jbor]

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>From: "Samuel Moyer" <smoyer at satx.rr.com>
>

> I can see it this way too...  It doesn't make sense that he would say to
> Ruby: "How did you do it." unless he had been fooled in the past.  Unless he
> means: how did you fool McClintic?

I'm not sure that she actually fools McClintic, or sets out to, and I'm not
entirely sure that she has really used "burnt cork" to darken her skin at
all. The reference to a "minstrel show" is significant: I can only think of
the old 'Black and White Minstrels', and if that's what she was looking like
then it wouldn't have fooled anybody! Of course, burnt cork wouldn't produce
quite that effect, but it would definitely rub off over time and certainly
in the course of sexual activity. Maybe it's only Roony who has assumed that
"Ruby" is a Negress: do we ever get an indication that this is what
McClintic thinks? And when asked how she does it she replies cryptically and
ominously: "I have read books". Which books, I wonder? It might also go back
to Benny not recognising Rachel at the Employment Agency: something to do
with the way that men, in general, look at or perceive women?

> I still go back to p. 349 where he says
> "I know a girl named Rachel...." and her response is: "Your wife wouldn't
> like that too much..."  Of course he might be wearing a ring... and he did
> use Rachel's full name and address...  It does say that McClintic introduced
> them.
>
> Now I am not even sure why I care, but I'd like to develop a clearer
> understanding of why Paola is with McClintic, why she goes to all the
> trouble.

I think she saw something in him which she liked, even though not quite
"getting" his music -- an attitude to women perhaps, a chance for her to be
treated with compassion for a change, to be listened to? This would seem to
reinforce her role as motivator in getting the Whole Sick Crew along to
V-Note to see him. (eg 51.7)

> Partly to avoid Pig Bodine and the Crew, maybe to avoid Profane (whom she
> loves?)

The women in his life don't seem to "love" Benny in a sexual way -- though
they are certainly willing to give him sex -- as much as they dote on him,
or mother him. I guess this is because he is so undominating himself.

best