VL-IV role reversal in Vineland in a general sort of way

[Joseph Tracy]

Illuminating  observations. There were some remarks and book reviews  
that talk about the implicit shift from a patriarchal to a  
matriarchal culture, which I see as a central theme. There is also  
plenty that opposes/undermines this motion, focusing around the  
patriarchy of the Mob, the PR3, businesses (music biz, meat market,  
car biz,) and the state: Weed, Vond, Wawazume, Wayvone,(Interesting   
initials pattern there) . P also explores the seduction of uniforms  
which may be a reference also  to the seduction of using male power  
in traditional male ways.   These are monumental challenges to  
western culture and it is a lot harder than many foresaw and I think  
TRP takes it on in some pretty subtle and not so subtle ways.

  The only formal matriarchy is the Kunoichi sisterhood which feels  
like a stand in for the feminist movement.; the Traverses seem to  
have matriarchal and patriachal elements but seem to be moving toward  
the women( kinda Celtic to my sense, where it has always been harder  
to define).

On Feb 6, 2009, at 11:13 AM, Michael Bailey wrote:

> trying to share some more of the reasons I love this book so much...
>
> it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that a stereotype exists,
> wherein the male goes off to war or to work, and the female (hestia,
> Penelope) keeps the home fires burning, and that some of the (quite
> justifiable) anger in early feminism derived from a dissatisfaction
> with it.  In Vineland, the roles are switched and the attendant joys
> and pains of each role (to some extent) fall to the unaccustomed.
>
> To wit, Zoyd keeps the house and the child, while Frenesi gets the
> adventure and long absence, the infidelity.
> He's the one who "marries up", has less education, and isn't taken
> seriously.  Her people are the brawling "Wild-Westers" and he is the
> schoolmarm.  Not only F/Z, but also the DL/T axis has this bias: DL is
> the one who inspires at first physical fear in Takeshi, and then
> protects him.  And it's her spiritual mentor who binds them together.
>
> These characteristics are nowhere (that I can think of) remarked on in
> the text, just worked from as postulates.
> Taken for granted as other stereotypes in other tales are.
>
>
> -- 
> --
> "Frenesi's eyes, even on the aging ECO stock, took over the frame, a
> defiance of blue unfadable."