BEg2 chapter 3 - a lack of rancor (a bit rambly, Crown Royal Shirley Templar IIIrd degree)

[Michael Bailey]

Why does Maxine exhibit such a lack of rancor towards Heidi?

Part of it is she knows Heidi’s abuses are adventures she wants to some
extent.

“ offenses Maxine in fact still finds herself brooding about from back in
high school—clothes borrowed but never returned, invitations to nonexistent
parties, Heidi-arranged hookups with guys Heidi knew were clinically
psychopathic.
            Sort of thing.”

Builds character, the adversity giving her the grit to become something
beyond a staid accountant to whom Horst would say in bed, “Audit me,
Maxine!”


If “Heidrophobia” characterizes Heidi as a rabid, well, bitch, then
“Maxi-Pad” characterizes Maxine as sympathetic absorber of excess flow.
Needing that re-humanizes Heidi. Being able to offer it and accept  being
relegated to the Princess’s slightly less attractive comic sidekick gives
Maxine a role she can doff and don as needed.

And perhaps there is more pathos here than I’m giving credit for.

Young Strubel under the dominion of his mother is reminiscent of Bertie
Wooster under the dominion of one or more aunts, which, funny as his
adventures are, is kind of sad because he’s so feckless.

And the consequences of promiscuity (cp Veterans of the Sexual Revolution
in GR?) include difficulty in settling down, holding the satisfaction
thereof in abeyance indefinitely.

Which Heidi experiences firsthand; a one night date with Horst and similar
experiences with other men is no substitute for building a home as a couple.

Now naturally there are compensations; enough people do not fit the
somewhat Procrustean bed of marriage (yes, it’s what you make of it, true)
that other approaches - especially, but not exclusively, in a big city - do
find adherents.

But Maxine has kept enough of a trousseau, so to say, that she does intend
to enforce expectations.
And Horst thinks he can buy his way out of that.

So Maxine’s sexual adventures would not even occur in this story were it
not for Horst’s unfaithfulness.

And yet, they are compelling reading (imho.) It’s almost like a competitive
sport, and her coming out of retirement to engage with the series of men
Joseph has just mentioned.


But returning to the lack of rancor between Maxine and Heidi, they’ve been
friends since forever, so….