The Unique Sadness of the Unicorn Man

That character that you (mis)translated as a unicorn, was in fact Marmeladov.  Don’t let his seemingly joyous sounding name fool you, for far from being a mythical, single-horned equine, he is instead, The Saddest Man In The World.

Your “unicorn” is an inveterate alcoholic, he’s drunk his family to penury–not once, but twice!  This has resulted in a daughter who has turned to prostitution and a wife whose love has evaporated.  Oh how I wish for a hovercraft sub-plot a la Back to the Future Part II (Or as I call it Just To The Future)!

I’ve spent some time pondering what role Marmeladov plays in the larger narrative and here’s what I’ve got as working hypotheses:

• Perspective Fairy:  Marmeladov is there to show us (and Raskolnikov) that things could be worse.  Sure you didn’t get as much money for your pretty trinket at the pawn shop, but at least you aren’t forcing your loved ones to debase themselves for a kopek or two.
• Humanity Mirror:  Marmeladov shows us that Raskolnikov is a good person…sure he’s thinking about murder via italicized adjectival nouns, but he’s not all bad.  He gives some of his much needed lucre to the Marmeladovs in their time of need.
• Inveterate One-Upper:  We’ve all been there…you’re telling the story of your bad day and there’s that guy at the bar who, of course, has had it worse.  “Oh you had three meetings today, boo hoo.  I was  in meetings from 7AM til 8PM…and my daughter’s a prostitute because of me.”  “You‘ve got a busy weekend?!  I have to sit here all day and drink until my wife’s last ounce of love is completely gone…that’s what I’d call busy!”

…and I think he’s a symbol of purity and grace.

I hope your reading has more unicorns and hovercrafts…they sure do brighten up this book!

Jon

Mrs. Peniston, The Art of Invitation, etc.

I haven’t posted in a while now…but I have been reading!  And I have a lot to discuss.  A lot.  But before I get into my rigorous analysis I’d like to have a moment of silence for Lily’s late uncle, Mr. Peniston and the taunting and teasing he must have endured during early adolescence.

[silence]

There…now let’s begin.  First let me say that if Mrs. Peniston ends up representing the patriarchy I will quit this book.  Quit it hard. (Unless of course a feminist character enters by the name of Lady Vaginalia De Cosworth).

I thought the following characterization of Mrs. Peniston was quite hilarious:

Mrs. Peniston thought the country lonely and trees damp, and cherished a vague fear of meeting a bull.

It tickled me to think of Mrs. Peniston unable to rest easy during her stay in the country, constantly looking over her shoulder for a random bull sighting.

Here are other lines that tickled my “funny” bone as I ready chapters three and four:

Mrs. Trenor on Lady Cressida:  “Think of my taking such a lot of trouble about a clergyman’s wife, who wears Indian jewelry and botanizes!”

I didn’t realize that “botanizing” was so frowned upon in New York high society.

And Lily’s thoughts of Percy Gryce and Miss Van Osburgh:  “Gryce was handsome in a didactic way–he looked like a clever pupil’s drawing from a plaster cast–while Gwen’s countenance had no more modeling than a face painted on a toy balloon.”

Zing!

So this book is definitely proving funnier than I anticipated.  But it’s also educational!  For instance, Mrs. Trenor’s How To Guide to Invitations.

Rule Number One:  When Inviting Someone To Do Something Make It As Attractive As Possible

Example her note to Lily:  “‘Dearest Lily, … if it is not too much of a bore to be down by ten, will you come to my sitting-room to help me with some tiresome things?'”

Sold!  Well played Mrs. Trenor.  Well played.

And finally I’ll leave you with my thoughts on our protagonist Lily Bart.  Overall I think she’s a very likeable character and I definitely wish her well…but I think a visit from the perspective fairy is called for.  I realize I shouldn’t judge her experience in early 20th century New York with my early 21st Century Minnesota morals…and I know that life was unfair and hard for women then (and still continues to be even now) but am I really  supposed to feel sorry for Lily?  She could live a frugal single existence…but then she wouldn’t be able to pay her gambling debts and buy new, fancy dresses.  Boo-hoo.  Or she has to marry a boring dude and swim in cash for the rest of her life (not to mention joint ownership of that rockin’ Americana collection).  It does suck that she can’t have both, but I think I’ll save more of my pity for that match girl who froze to death selling matches for Santa Claus (I should note here that I don’t know for certain that “The Little Matchgirl” actually took place in Lily Bart’s neighborhood, and that I, in fact, don’t know the story of the Little Matchgirl at all…except for a vague memory of the made for TV movie version starring Keisha Knight-Pulliam.

What do you think?

Until the next time I can incorporate another YouTube clip tangentially related to the  Golden Girls,

Jon