TRTR Part I, Chap V Pages 171-172: A Brachycephalic Symbol

[David Morris]

TR's Esther potential abortion is too close to V. to be a coincidence.

On Sunday, May 15, 2011, Erik T. Burns <eburns at gmail.com> wrote:
> So the doorbell rings and it's Herschel, with "a young lady adjusting
> a garter," a "little two-legged friend".
>
> He says "Baby!" on seeing Maude, who wants one.
>
> Herschel, it appears, has a brachycephalic head, and Maude thinks
> "Head shapes are very important."
>
> Herschel's is flat, not intellectual or that of a domestic, or a big
> square leader of men's head.
>
> There is some talk of getting Maude a baby from another woman Herschel
> knows who is going to have one and doesn't want it -- "Not just yet,
> though."
>
> This is Esther, Wyatt's former wife. Wyatt is not the father of the
> "turkey in the oven."
>
> The unreproductive theme is underlined by polite talk of abortionists,
> and they highlight Wyatt's exile, too: "I understand he lives
> underground. Or underwater. Some really absurd part of town. No one's
> ever been there."
>
> Basically, we are being introduced to Gaddis' preoccupations:
> wholebodiedness vs missing limbs; sterile relationships, heavy social
> drinking.
>