Vineland

[Paul Mackin]

On Mar 6, 2006, at 7:34 PM, Michael Bailey wrote:

> On 3/6/06, Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net> wrote:
>>
>> Interesting. I assume you are speaking of kicking ass figuratively,
>> not literally.  In some intellectual way, perhaps.  And you have to
>> pay some "tribute" in order to forestall this.
>>
>> In Frenesi's case I think the only  tribute she needs to pay here is
>> her sexual allure, which trumps everything else.  Her naivete doesn't
>> have to be feigned.
>>
>> F's main character trait is  that everyone wants her.
>>
>
>  literally (if you ride with bikers, or hitchhike around the country,
> for instance; although cops at traffic stops, and Republican friends
> also are physically intimidating),  although I can't always avoid
> (nor, when failing to avoid, always win at) intellectual contention
> either.
> I've gotten better at finding common ground, though; having a boss at
> work is a constant helpful discipline, for one thing, and a spouse is
> the real deal in that respect too
>  The "tribute" would be a naive belief in innate human goodness, and
> strong ahimsa, real, given willingly;
> or in less vague terms, willingness to be friends anyway

The p-list is blessed to have people like you.  Blessed also to have  
those of other temperaments.

>
> It occurred to me that Frenesi's speech, which until after "Never?" is
> unattributed and thus indicative of the sense of not just Frenesi but
> the collective, foretokens the Emerson quote of the family patriarch;
> main difference being "because too many of us are watching" becomes
> "there is a bar" (natural law)

For what it's worth, Emerson's divine or cosmic justice would be  
presumed to work even if NO ONE WAS WATCHING.

Frenesi's favorable outcome, on the other hand,  is man made (not to  
exclude woman made) requiring human intervention.

Old Jess's example seems less spiritually or divinely ordained. More  
ordained by fate.



>
> creating "the conscience of our race"

echoes "uncreated conscience of my race."  "I will go forth for the  
millionth time to forge in the smithy of my soul . . . ".

> Important book, I still think

It's certainly well written.  At least with respect to its various  
individual parts.

>
> the fact that she's aware of the camera on her doesn't necessarily
> mean that she becomes coy, or self-absorbed, come to think of it -
> that certainly isn't in the text: "aware at each moment of the lens
> gathering in her own image" (195)

Whether something is or isn't in the text can be a complex question.

>
> --
>