VLVL Prairie and DL

[Paul Nightingale]

>From jbor:
> 
> temporize, -ise  v.i. adopt indecisive or time-serving policy; avoid
> committing oneself, act so as to gain time; comply temporarily with
> requirements of occasion (Oxford)
> 
The OED's complete list of meanings:

1. To adopt some course for the time or occasion; hence, to adapt oneself or
conform to the time and circumstances; to 'trim'.

2. To let time pass, spend time, 'mark time'; to procrastinate; to delay or
wait for a more favourable moment.

3. To act, negotiate, parley, treat, deal (with a person, etc.), so as to
gain time.

4. To negotiate, to discuss terms; to arrange or make terms, to effect a
compromise (with a person, etc., between persons or parties).

It's clearly significant that, from the list, jbor has picked out one
meaning that makes the chapter fit his limited (and limiting)
interpretation. We should consider the ambiguity that Pynchon's choice of
word presents. He doesn't write: "She lied to this poor kid, just as
everyone else had." Or: "She proved quite as untrustworthy as the other
shitty adults in Prairie's life." Pynchon might not be good enough for the
Observer, but he does choose his words carefully.

If only his would-be readers were careful also. Just a couple of points
here:

> A lot is left unsaid between the two of them, but eventually both
> understand
> where things stand I think.

Yes. Communication is achieved, messages are sent and received. Knowledge is
processed. Which undermines the view that DL is being evasive. If so, her
stalling tactics are remarkably unsuccessful.

> No judgement, just an analysis of what happens
> in the scene, what DL thinks and says and how she acts in the text,
> Prairie
> too, and where they end up, DL staring shamefacedly at her feet "like an
> amateur tap dancer"

What I read is: "... DL had to stare down at her feet like an amateur tap
dancer".

I guess my version of the novel is the one in which the unscrupulous editor
chose to omit "shamefacedly".

> (NB "amateur") and telling the girl to trust herself
> (because DL isn't deserving of Prairie's trust),

Prairie says: "I'll have to trust you." DL responds: "You'll have to trust
yourself." Once again my version had left out the reference to DL being
untrustworthy.

> and Prairie taking the
> initiative, sadly waving the amulet at the scanner to signal "game over,
> you've fobbed me off onto Takeshi". (103.28-37)
>
I should really ask for my money back. In my (clearly inferior) version of
the novel, DL says: "You ought to at least have Takeshi's input on this. Any
reason you can't come with me?" No "sadly"; no "fobbed me off". The text
tracks the relationship being established, one based on equality and trust.
Prairie isn't "one of those kids on Phil Donohue". The ordering of the text
is also important. DL's question is followed by the amulet business, which
becomes part of Prairie's answer. Then the exchange about trust.