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

[Joseph Tracy]

  With  every character as in our current focus with Heidi and Maxine I find particular meaning in the question of who changes and how in the course of the novel. In many ways these friends have simillar paths, both are having a number of sexual encounters but Maxine is being changed by these, sometimes deeply, she cares about and retains some kind of loyalty or sympathy and concern for her lovers and as Horst moves back into her life she sees differences in his behavior that revive her loyalty and affection for both the old and new Horst. It is hard for me to see similar inner changes in Heidi. Even her relationship with Maxine stays on the surface and doesn’t change much. They can be real with one another but maybe only in the context of the princess and wacky sidekick relationship.  It’s comfortingly familiar but it seems to me to also be rather stuck in role-playing on repeat.  



> On Nov 14, 2021, at 2:53 AM, Michael Bailey <michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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….
> --
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