Re: I'm still here
Steve Gallagher (sgallagher@lasersedge.net)
Mon, 19 Jan 1998 12:24:26 -0800
I have always believed the Laughing Man to be a Super Hero, born of the
Chief's imagination--the two, in fact, sharing many similarities. Could
"stifling his naturally hideous laughter" be viewed in the same light as
whispering secret plans into the floppy ears of dogs--unbeknownst to their
dopey owners--as the work of a completely healthy juvenile imagination?
Remember Holden slumped over a banister, ruing the rogue who just riddled
his belly with gun shots (or something like that)? There is, however,
something the narrator does that catches my full attention. When things seem
to have turned for the worse, he invites Mary Hudson to his house for
dinner. Holden would have done the same. De Daumier-Smith, too, I think.
All examples of misplaced responsibility that is so much a theme in JDS'
stories. I agree with Will's earlier post, questioning the Chief's actions
as storyteller.
PS, I've never believed FSF had it so good.
Brendan McKennedy wrote:
> Perhaps the kid in the story is an infiltrator because he is, even
> duplicitously, privy to a very intimate, adult relationship--the Chief's
> affair--while perhaps he appears to the Chief as simply laughing at the
> world, along for the ride, unaware of what is going on in the world
> around him.
>
> Brendan
--
Steve Gallagher * sgallagher@lasersedge.net