ATDTDA (14): Back on the Other Side, 376-383

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

Laura and Paul both raised valid points about Frank's
nature.  He does have plans and desires, but is thwarted
and finds himself responding to cues that don't 
take him where he wants to go.




> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Nightingale [mailto:isreading at btinternet.com]
> Sent: Sunday, August 5, 2007 07:38 AM
> To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: Re: ATDTDA (14): Back on the Other Side, 376-383
>
> Frank's aimless wandering was established when he followed Reef to Nochecita
> (Linnet accuses him of "loitering", 203). Pursuit of Deuce/Sloat might be a
> long-term goal, but in the here-&-now Frank often appears to lack a
> short-term strategy other than waiting for things to happen: consider his
> post-Golden (anti-) career (starting on 273), when he drifts until the
> arrival of Wren (275). Similarly at Telluride: Frank is passed from one
> character to the next, reactive rather than proactive: from Wren he borrows
> the role of covert anthropologist, which is appropriate. Key moments are
> provided by Merle's recognition of him, echoed by Dwayne's insistence that
> he be the Kid: such passages are a reminder of who he is, and without them
> perhaps he might wander further and further from the pursuit of Deuce/Sloat.
>
>