VLVL Prairie, Isaiah, DL and the Mafia

[jbor]

> Help me out here. Where exactly does the text make it clear that "Isaiah
> understands the implication of Prairie's question, and ... acknowledges and
> respects Prairie's freedom and independence?"

When, after Prairie's question, Isaiah says: "You're not gonna come?" It's
pretty obvious. 

Prairie introduces DL to Isaiah and tells him "about the amulet and the
Japanese guy who was now obliged to help her" (104.10). This is the sum
total of the new information DL has provided. And there is an edge in that
word "obliged" which contrasts Takeshi's obligation "to honor" Prairie's
possession of the chit with the fact that DL isn't "obliged" to help her or
tell her anything, and hasn't. The most Prairie can say about DL to assuage
Isaiah's concern is: "She's cool, rilly." (104.17) The decision to "trust"
DL and go with her is a gamble Prairie has taken on the strength of the lone
fact that DL used to run with her mom (100.6-16).

If Isaiah's hand on Prairie's shoulder can be construed to symbolise
patriarchal oppression I wonder what DL grabbing an Uzi and strutting across
the stage singing a "gun-moll anthem" to the delight of her Mafia friends
might be deemed to signify?

        Oh, just what was it about that
        Little Israeli machine? ...
        Play all day in the sand,
        Nothin' gets jammed, under-
        Stand ... what I mean --

best