Bianca and the females V room

[Monte Davis]

JT:

> It's iffy to equate protected female youthfulness with innocence.  
> The Vroom sisters in M&D were protected from hardships by slaves,  
> their "protected" environment was directly related to their  
> willingness to exploit both slaves and visiting white men.

And the games played with M&D inside the house are echoed in the street
outside:

"There is something irresistibly perverse," as the Rev_d then noted, "about
a young white woman sitting upon a Stoep in the evening, among a steady
coming and going of black servants meant, as in the Theater of the Japanese,
to be read as invisible, whilst she poses all a-shine, she and her friends.
According to which steps they sit upon, and which are then claim'd by the
Feet of young Sparks who might wish to linger, the possible viewing-angles,
for both Parties, are more or less multiplied, each combination of Steps
having its own elaborate Codes for what is allow'd, and what transgresses,
from Eye-play to the readjustment of skirts and underskirts, and the length
of time 'tis consider'd proper to gaze. Some Belles like to 'boss' their
male Slaves about in front of the young men, whilst others wish to be caught
gazing after Girl-slaves with unconceal'd envy..."

Cf. in V, Esther's careful angle of breast presentation to Brad. Also Benny,
friends & jailbait playing their parts (and another glancing Japanese
reference) at the street fair: 

"Someplace else the American ensign and the geisha would be singing in
Italian to the music behind them; and how was that for a tourist's confusion
of tongues? The girls moved away and the three fell into step beside them.
They bought beer and took over an unoccupied stoop."