Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Cheating
I started to write a post about the pervasive infidelity in the book (Mr. M., Mr. Dexter, Paul and Tammy's dad —— and Tracy's dad?). Why is everyone being unfaithful? But then it occurred to me that there's a broader theme of "cheating" in the book, especially with all the election shenanigans —— cheating for thrills, cheating out of desperation, cheating to win, cheating to spite, being unfaithful to others, being unfaithful to oneself, one's values.
I don't know. Is the whole "election" concept maybe some metaphor for how we make choices, how we "elect" to live our lives and then try to rationalize those largely irrational decisions?
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4 comments:
Oh, that's so well-put. It works well as a theme. I thought the storyline with Paul/Tammy's parents and the bit on Tracy's dad — he could have been an absentee father for many other reasons — were distracting. Tammy's mom distraught and dealing with her daughter's suspensions/Catholic school uniform were comic to me, but the rest, I don't know.
In the vein of what I just posted earlier on unsympathetic characters, I like the parallels that the adults have made their choices and have come up discontent. Marriage and career and babies, and something's still wrong. And the kids throw their respective hats in the ring to be president — the stamp of high school approval and success — and nobody comes out a winner there, either. Even Tracy experiences this essentially empty feeling when her term is over.
I thought that too, C: that the storyline with the parents felt extraneous. I thought maybe it was there simply to include more men doing pathetic things! (I think this author has a pretty good handle on the male sexual psyche). Tammy summarizes it well when she sees her dad going into the motel and observes how pitiful he is: "Dad held his hand on her big butt and glanced furtively from side to side like a criminal. He looked so pathetic, a potbellied guy in a tweed rain hat, about to do the nasty." I especially liked this scene because it was such a dead-on description, but also because it brought to mind how teenagers are pretty blind to their own pathetic behaviors and the pathetic behaviors they'll likely indulge themselves as adults.
Speaking of the dad, what did you think of Paul's confrontation with him about the other woman? I can't decide if that was a glimpse into Paul's deep self or something completely out of character. It didn't seem like a thing Paul would do -- criticizing someone's looks, but maybe that just came from incomprehension and anger about the divorce, like on the surface at least it would seem understandable to leave Mom for a young hot thing, but not for someone older and frumpier. Maybe it was just a general "How could you?" that took on some unfortunate specifics with the intention of wounding Dad?
Wow, C, love your point about the pervasive discontent. So apt.
I think pervasive discontent was a theme in "Little Children" as well.
I didn't see Paul's remarks as revealing a character flaw. I just thought it was a hurt kid lashing out. It's natural for kids in that situation to compare the "other woman" to their mom, and I think when she isn't necessarily better-looking, it's harder for kids to understand the transgression. And I thought Paul got increasingly mean in his remarks because he could see he wasn't having the intended result of hurting his dad.
I also loved Tammy's account of seeing her dad at the motel. I totally remember thinking of my parents that way.
I think Erin put it well. Paul just couldn't handle the transgression (or the forbidden fruit involved). It did seem out of character unless cast in that light.
Tammy seemed like more of a realist. Would have loved a Tammy-father exchange! I hope I can remember them, but at some point I thought that might be a good post — characters you wish had interacted.
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