VLVL Prairie and DL

[jbor]

>>"DL had to stare down at her feet, like an amateur tap dancer" (103.29).
>> 
>> And which implies, pretty unequivocally imo, that DL has been trying to
>> dance the soft-shoe shuffle, but that she wasn't particularly good at it.

> Ah, but "pretty unequivocally" is less than "equivocally," isn't it?

One would hope they're not thought of as synonyms, yes.

> In
> fact, there are several alternative readings to your "pretty unequivocal"
> one. I think it's more reasonable to interpret the line as indicating, DL
> seems to feel both embarrassment with Prairie's innocence (since she is
> used to hardened, more experienced badinageurs) and a sense of
> incongruity--her self-reliance and independence are now challenged by the
> emerging need to protect and defend this innocent daughter. Finding
> herself in the role of "mom" makes her awkward. I think Vineland's
> portrayal of DL as an asset of Prairie's, and as a contrast to Frenesi, is
> borne out by a reading more nearly like mine, and renders your reading of
> DL as con artist merely interesting.

I haven't said that DL's a con artist, of course. And my reading, whether or
not you judge it "interesting", actually engages with the detail of
Pynchon's text: the simile ("like an amateur tap dancer"); the fact that DL
isn't able to meet Prairie's eye; the fact that Prairie "blurted" out her
impassioned plea as an accusation ("You think I'm ... "). And I'm also
reading it in the context of the scene which has lead up to it.

Throughout the scene we get direct recounts of how conflicted DL is about
the fact that she can't or won't tell Prairie the truth about Frenesi. I
think that Prairie is much more self-sufficient and street-wise than you
give her credit for, and she understands exactly what has transpired in the
encounter with DL, and how DL hasn't been up-front. And I don't think that
DL is being patronising towards Prairie and trying to cast herself as
Prairie's "mom". 

Prairie decides she will "have to trust" DL because "the Japanese guy who
was now obliged to help her" is the only lead and potential source of help
available to her now, and DL has offered to take her to meet him.

It might be useful to compare this episode with the way that DL and Prairie
respond when challenged by Sister Rochelle (108-9). Caught out once again DL
lowers her eyes, while Prairie is brash and resourceful in her response.

best