MDDM Chapter 44 "a haze of green Resurrection" (441.2)

[Terrance]

jbor wrote:
> 
> The boys were snow-bound at Knockwoods' Inn for a number of days/weeks
> (383-4) after their visit to Lancaster Town (363), and then went off
> separately south and north for a week (393 ff), and now the weather is right
> for them to begin marking the Line.

Not sure this happened at all. Of course I want to admit the
possibility, the subjunctives and all, but I'm also the idiot that
thinks our boys are with child of some sort and that Dixon is not quite
the lady killer he seems to be. In fact, in these couple-few chapters
none of the characters are what they seem to be. In fact, in these
chapters,  this is what we read in the text, that none of  the
characters are what they seem to be. And they seem to be aware of this.
They are aware they are playing parts in a drama or a novel. At times
they don't realize that that other characters know they are only acting
a part and at times they forget their lines, their roles, even who they
are beneath the disguises. At times they are so "in character" that they
forget that they will risk life and limb while maintaining their role.
And, like a Knight in a parodic Romance or a mad fop in a ghastly
southern gothic tale, they will endanger the lives of anyone who happens
to be strutting and fretting upon the world or stage.  And to take this
a bit further we read that none of **US** are what we seem to be. OK, so
we're not in Kansas anymore. At the bottom of 438 Mason, looking like a
complete jackass, wants to know what it is about Dixon and his people,
is it some mystikal Gift? Gift? Lot of people in P's novels have gifts.
Like Pirate P in GR, for example. And, who is dreaming here? At 435,
Squire says, they are Lads, having a dream together. Who are these lads
and what does a dream **together** imply? But what confuses me here is
this, if Mason can remember holding up that Tub and other things that
might have happened in the strange chapters we just read why does he say
he **imagines** that Dixon and his people have some magical gift? At 439
it appears that Mason is willing to pull off the jackass costume and
play another role, if only briefly. That is, the text circle back to an
old issue--Dixon reminding MR. Mason that he is "not a fucking Jesuit."
The two play at Italian Jesuit, each taking a line.  Children play in 
miniature at page 421. And it seems that the rumors or fragments of 
(recall that Washington says that fragments of Jesuit spy stories are
pasted together) tales about those evil Catholics have infected the
dreams of Mr. Mason again. Well, I guess we should just move on down the
line, but I still say some child of Dixon and Mason is crouching toward
the resurrection to born. 




> 
> I tend to agree with John that Wicks isn't *really* telling much of the tale
> at all, although the possibility that he is referring to himself (even
> perhaps the older as well as the younger Rev.d) in the third person, like
> Herbert Stencil in _V._, does persist.
> 
> best