You never did the Kenosha Kid?

[jbor at bigpond.com]

On 29/08/2005 jbor at bigpond.com wrote:

> "These changes on the text 'You never did the Kenosha Kid' are 
> occupying Slothrop's awareness as the doctor leans in ... " (61)
>
> Interesting choice of words, there, "occupying Slothrop's awareness".

Not sure how much mental "awareness" one can actually have while 
sleeping. In fact, according to the text, the doctor "leans in to wake 
him". That's what the doctor is doing, or what s/he believes s/he is 
doing. Nowhere does the text indicate that Slothrop is asleep, nor is 
it mentioned at any point that he's dreaming. In fact, if wordplay is 
"occupying [his] awareness" -- wordplay which is being itemised 
numerically with sub-points -- I think it's pretty clear that he's 
awake, merely pretending to be asleep (though, of course, the doctor 
doesn't know that, which is why s/he "leans in to wake him"). And he's 
definitely not under the Sodium Amytal at this point.

While there are indeed interesting connotations of the word 
"occupying", the most straightforward denotation of that term (i.e. 
that the thoughts have come into, or "occupied", Slothrop's mind of 
their own accord, without any conscious effort on his part) works 
perfectly well also. Slothrop is working at covering his tracks, trying 
to "trick" his subconscious mind -- it's a bit like George schooling 
Jerry in how to beat the lie detector in the "Melrose Place" episode of 
'Seinfeld'. Anything less subtle would be easily picked up during the 
Sodium Amytal interrogation -- even Slothrop would realise that.

Note also that the 'Kenosha Kid' variations occupy Slothrop's awareness 
in exactly the same style and format both before *and* after he is 
supposedly woken up by the doctor. In fact, he manages to get to point 
(6) before the Sodium Amytal kicks in ("Oh-oh. Wait. What's this, 
Slothrop? You never did the Kenosha kid. Snap to, Slothrop." Cue 
ditty.)

Later on we discover that Slothrop'd been hoping for -- perhaps even 
angling for -- a Section 8 while in the "nut ward" (114). I think this 
supports the interpretation that he's up to something.

best