Dance to the Music of Time10c

BOOKS DO FURNISH A ROOM -- 2008, PAGE 2

Some More Rock Buns?
A Revisit to Sillery's

John Bukawyn

      In the tenth installment of The Dance, Books Do Furnish a Room, Sillery reappears. His long absence from Nick's life ends as Nick revisits Oxford to research Robert Burton and The Anatomy of Melancholy. While this encounter between the two brings back to Nick educational memories, I recalled the manipulative ways in which Sillery tried to influence Stringham in the first novel of the series, A Question of Upbringing. How much has Sillery actually changed? Has he connected to power? For all of the time between Nick's schooling and 1948, Sillery has barely altered his ways: still manipulative and always changing.

      Holding tea-parties while Nick is at school, Sillery surrounds himself with brilliant and capable talent so that he can network for the future. People like Quiggin, Bill Truscott, and Stringham all are considered to have a bright future by Sillery and thus invited to his parties. Sillery however treats each boy differently by assuming special characteristics in order to manipulate the situation. When dealing with Bill Truscott, who was bound for the position of Prime Minister at an early age, "he would behave like an affectionate aunt" (208, QU). In the meeting between Nick, Stringham, Miss Weedon, and Sillery, Sillery displays very similar behavior to that of becoming like Truscott's aunt. Over the course of the discussion, which is about Stringham leaving the University early to take the position of secretary of Sir Magnus Donners, Sillery changes his attitude multiple times to adapt to the situation. At first Sillery is very aggressive as he tries to control the conversation, but as Miss Weedon retaliates by keeping the dialogue on her terms, Sillery quickly becomes reserved, noting that he had lost this battle. As Stringham's parents arrive, however, Miss Weedon's efforts are undermined and Sillery again goes on the offensive, acting flirtatiously toward Buster Foxe. Sillery succumbs, "himself to flattery, and perhaps [allows] Buster to hear the names of some of the more impressive specimens in his collection," (219). Sillery's tactics prove effective as Buster is convinced shortly that Stringham is to take the position at Donners-Brebner. By changing his attitude for Buster, Sillery manipulates him and the conversation.

      When Nick, doing research, encounters Sillery at Oxford for the second time, Sillery acts very much in the same way. As the three men there, Nick, Short, and Sillery discuss Widmerpool's affairs, it seems as if the three know equally about Widmerpool. However as that dialogue continues, Sillery's manner changes suddenly to revert the conversation back to his control: "He began to rub his hands together, a habit that usually indicated the launching of one of his anti-personnel weapons, some explosive item of information likely to be brought out with damaging effect to whoever had just put forth some given view" (14, BDFR). Bringing up Pamela Flitton takes Short off his guard, and allows Sillery to brag about his information regarding her and also his new associate, Ada Leintwardine. Miss Leintwardine is handling Sillery's secret diaries, typing them and also aiding in the publishing process. When the diaries are revealed Short is awestruck, exclaiming, "You've met everbody, Sillers. They'll be read as the most notable chronicles of our time" (20, BDFR). After this comment, Sillery transforms into some sort of evil villain: "He screwed up his eyes, laughed a great deal, blew out his moustache" (20-21, BDFR). Knowing that his diaries have the ability to ruin the people he has connected to, Sillery turns into a monster.

      Whether he is an affectionate aunt or evil villain, Sillery changes his character to manipulate situations. It is this transformation that keeps the younger and older Sillery similar. At first expecting some senile old man, as Sillery confuses Nick with many others, Nick is somewhat pleased that one of his old acquaintances remains constant after the war. With so many of Nick's friends passing over the course of the last three novels, he enjoys his rock bun with Sillery.

A Ration of The Dance

William Koven

      A Dance to the Music of Time was written by a British author about British characters. It is therefore important for an American reader to keep in mind how the society in which Nick Jenkins and his friends live differs from American society at that same time period. One way in which life was surprisingly different for the two countries during and after World War II was rationing. Americans, who only really experienced gasoline rationing, often forget that rationing in Britain was far more serious and did not end until well after the war. Since the rationing of materials like food stuffs and clothing had a large impact on life in Britain during and after World War II, it is important to know what the rationing was and how it worked in order to better understand the sort of life that Nick Jenkins and his acquaintances are living.

      Before the outbreak of World War II, Britain imported millions of tons of food, but due to the success of German U-boats Britain had trouble importing much needed goods. In addition, British farmers, miners, and manufacturers, turned their attention to the war effort. In order to best make use of its somewhat limited resources, and to make sure that those resources were fairly distributed, the British government decided to introduce a system of rationing. Food rationing began on January 8th, 1940 with bacon, ham, butter, and sugar. Later, in March 1940 all meat was rationed and in July tea and margarine were also rationed. In 1941 jam, milk, cheese and eggs went on ration, and in 1942 rice, dried fruit, and biscuits became rationed. A typical week's worth of rations during World War II looked something like: 4 oz. of bacon, 3 pints of milk, 2 oz. butter, 2 oz. of margarine, 2 oz. fat or lard, 2 oz. of tea, 1 egg, 2 oz. jam, 3 oz. sugar, 2 oz. of cheese, and 2 oz. of sweets. The size of rations for various items changed throughout the war and while most rations were decreased some rations, like cheese, were actually increased.

      Although, restaurants were not restricted by rationing, they still had rules they were required to follow. No meal could cost more than five shillings and meat and fish could not be served in the same meal. The first restriction was put into place to keep restaurants from only being available to the rich. Despite that restriction, there was a lot of resentment that the wealthy could eat out frequently, and thus did not feel the affects of rationing as much as those with less money. Most poor families, however, were still able to supplement their weekly rations by eating at work or school cafeterias.

      Clothing, as well as food, became rationed on June 1st, 1941. Initially every person was given 66 points per year to spend on clothing with various items of clothing costing different amounts. A person's annual ration was cut to 48 points in 1942 and then to 36 points in 1943. The rations were not very generous since, for instance, a raincoat or overcoat cost 16 points, a blazer 13, and a pair of pants 8 points. The rationing of cloth and clothing had a large affect on fashion since fabric had to be spared. Short trousers, rather than full length pants, became normal for young boys and unnecessary frills and lace disappeared from clothing. Certain items of clothing such as coveralls and other work clothes were not rationed. Second hand clothing was also not rationed so long as it was sold under a maximum price determined by the item's ration-point value.

      Rationing did not stop in the United Kingdom until well after the end of World War II. The first item to stop being rationed was bread, which had not even started to be rationed until 1946 and came off rationing in July 1948. Jam came off rationing as well in 1948, tea in 1952, sweets, eggs, cream, and sugar in 1953, and butter, cheese, margarine, fats, meats, and bacon in 1954. Clothing rationing ended in 1949. Even after World War II, rationing was a part of British life.

      Nick Jenkins and most of the characters in A Dance to the Music of Time are quite wealthy, and so they likely do not feel the same kinds of affects that less well-to-do British citizens felt. Even so, Nick, when leaving the army at the end of The Military Philosophers, takes advantage of his "points gained by age, length of service… and so on" (MP 242) to get himself a set of everything "except the underclothes" (MP 244). Given the state of rationing at the time, Nick would have been foolish to turn down a chance at new clothes. When it comes to food, most of the characters are able to eat out often and their biggest complaint tends to be a lack of available alcohol. While alcohol was never rationed, it became so scarce that not even money could guaranty a supply. However, even the wealthiest characters in The Dance casually mutter complaints here and there about rationing.

      Finally, X-Trapnel is an example of a character whose actions must be considered in light of the rationing that was happening in London. A reader should remember that petrol (gasoline) rationing was also taking place, and thus Trapnel's refusal to take public transit and use of taxis is even more wasteful and expensive than it might be in other circumstances. Also, when Nick first meets X-Trapnel, he takes particular notice of his great coat, shoes, and suit. The great coat turns out to be an old RAF great coat bought from Bagshaw. Underneath Trapnel wears a tropical suit which Nick notes him wearing many times throughout the book. Nick also mentions Trapnel's shoes and says that he wore them, "until their rubber soles, worn to the thinness of paper, had became all but detached." Trapnel's clothing does reflect his personality, but since Nick gives the reader a first impression of X-Trapnel by describing his clothing, an American reader should at the same time keep in mind that Trapnel's choice in clothing and choice to wear his clothes to shreds also reflects a necessity dictated by the rationing that was still taking place.

Sources:

http://www.worldwar2exraf.co.uk/Online%20Museum/Museum%20Docs/foodration.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationing_in_the_United_Kingdom_during_and_after_World_War_II

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/war/rationing.htm

http://www.history.ac.uk/ihr/Focus/War/londonRation.html

The Imminent Demise of X Trapnel

Jay Park

      Introduced by Nick as "a menace still to be learnt," X Trapnel immediately strikes the reader as an eccentric and multifaceted character (112). Known for the multiple roles he plays in Books Do Furnish a Room - a "comrade, lover, writer, and sage" to name a few - X Trapnel has always managed to act a certain part. Despite the ephemeral nature of his roles, Trapnel seems to maintain a certain self-awareness of his part in his own life as well as in society, providing an almost paradoxical sense of stability; that was until he met Pamela Widmerpool. After falling foolishly in love with the newly wed Pamela Widmerpool, X Trapnel suddenly loses his grasp and understanding of his own role, which undoubtedly leads to his downward spiral in A Dance to the Music of Time.

      When first introduced to X Trapnel, his passion for writing and reading literature becomes emphatically evident. With a "taste for discussing [literature]" and a "passionate interest in writing," Trapnel clearly defines himself as a writer, having already published his novel Camel Ride to the Tomb (114). While his character can be complex and overwhelming at times, prior to his involvement with Pamela, Trapnel's role as an author and a literary critic cannot be question. Furthermore, after his encounter with Trapnel and Bagshaw at a pub, Nick takes particular notice of the various roles he assumes. Nick mentions that "Trapnel always acted a part; not necessarily the same part, but a part of some kind...doggedly sticking to the role-or roles-he had chosen to assume" (144). Jenkins further clarifies Trapnel's unique personality by describing just a few of his many roles, which "no brief definition" could describe:

      "Trapnel wanted, among other things to be a writer, a dandy, a lover, a comrade, an eccentric, a sage, a virtuoso, a good chap, a man of honour, a hard case, a spendthrift, an opportunist…to be very rich, to be very poor, to possess a thousand mistresses, to win the heart of one love to whom he was ever faithful…" (144)

      Despite his lack of ability to understand "what on Earth the [his role] was originally intended to denote," X Trapnel had nonetheless always chosen his own roles, indicating that he was in control of the "part he played" (144). Now having chosen amongst being " very rich, very poor, [or] the most neglected genius of the age," X, for the most part, seems to control his own life - as he clearly dictates its direction (145).

      However, after falling madly in love with the infamous Pamela Widmerpool, Trapnel seems to lose his own sense of self-awareness - the key component which maintains his stability. In fact, Nick notes that "one of the greatest consequences of [Pamela's] presence was to displace [his] tendency to play a part..." (192). Pamela's mere presence offsets the very nature of X Trapnel's character. Due to his relationship with Pamela, it becomes clear that Trapnel no longer has the same control he once had to choose his own roles - thus losing command of the one consistent aspect of his life.

      Even after changing the very nature of X Trapnel's role playing ability, Pamela ruthlessly attacks his most prized possession - his writing. Slandering and patronizing his manuscript Profiles in String, Pamela sends X Trapnel into a "bit of a state," which Nick more eloquently describes as " a man weighed down by sorrow and fear" (217-218). While his writing has been criticized and insulted in the past by "supposedly intelligent people," no one as close to X as Pamela had ever taken the liberty to completely humiliate his own literature, which he describes as a part of "what he is" (104-111). Trapnel's condition takes an even more sudden turn for the worse as he finds his only copy of Profiles in String floating down the Canal. A piece of work "he was extremely pleased with," X Trapnel could not believe that his Pamela had not only insulted but also defaced his work - denouncing his ability and more importantly the very core of his character. Not only had Pamela taken his role as a lover, but she also stripped Trapnel of the one essential role that he relied so heavily upon - the one of the author. In essence, Pamela changed the nature of X Trapnel's character and gave him nothing to return to after her sudden departure - no more roles, no lover, and, most importantly, no writing. Reflecting upon his adulterous relationship with Pamela, the decimated Trapnel remembers that " irony, melodrama, , narcissism, fantasy, all his accustomed tendency to play a role had been this time completely eliminated" (225). Suddenly it becomes clear that the roles that Trapnel once played will most definitely never be played again.

      From our first introduction to X Trapnel, we get the impression that, in many ways, he seemed to be a predominately self sufficient character - relying only upon his writing and his various roles to survive. However, after his encounter with Pamela, Trapnel seems entirely lost, without any role or any identity beyond the one of her many adulterous mates. Without a part in society or in his own life, X Trapnel can only hope that "a mystic arm [rises] from the dark waters to catch" him, since without a miracle, he too will fade away into the abyss of the Canal (223).

Promotion

Dana Feeny

      There has been a surprise. We have just received news from our Defense of Ministry that we must go home," Jean casually mentions, explaining that a change of Government and big reorganization have demanded them to return to South America. When asked for details, she says, "There are, well, political implications. It is not just the same as being in the army here. So we have to make immediate arrangements to pack up, you see." It is safe to assume that the political situation in their home country is unstable.

      We can get a better idea of what Colonel Flores and Jean may be involved in if we take a closer look at the events taking place in South America at the time. An example of the struggles some of these governments were facing in the late 1940s was Venezuela. There, the struggle for power occurred mostly between the Democratic Republican Union (the URD) and the Democratic Action Party (the AD). In 1949 a military cabal overthrew the constitutional government of Romulo Gallegos. His most prominent supporters consisted of his colonels, Carlos Delgado Chalbaud, Marcos Perez Jimenez, and Luis Llovera Paez. These supporters feared the AD and accused them of extremism and sectarianism (descrimination/intolerance/hatred). Jovito Villalbo of the URD accused the AD of deforming the democratic revolution with "intolerable and narrow hegemony" (hegemony: one group ruling a diverse culture) They outlawed the Democratic Action Party, imprisoning its leaders or sending them into exile. The junta, the military, soon discovered that the AD represented a formidable force in Venezuelan society. Ad militants were engrained in society with jobs in the press, trade unions, student and teacher organizations, and even in business and industry. To keep them oppressed, the URD closed the ADs newspaper and shortly after the junta's Board of Censors exercised rigid control over the nation's press. These and other repressive acts aroused resentment among Venezuelan people. Using the AD and its infultration into society as excuse, the military untaba established a dictatorship under which it created the National Security police (seguridad Nacional, SN)

      Under the dictator Pedro Estrada, SN established a reign of terror. Government men broke into homes and arrested citizens suspected of antigovernmental activities and were notorious for torture. The dictatorship was in place from 1949-1952. Throughout this time, colonels Delgado Chalbaud and Perez Jimenez fought for control of the junta. November 1950 Delgado was assassinated. Perez cautiously waited before rising to control. He created the Independent Electoral Front (FEI) for elections to take place in 1952 with the intention of manipulating his way to the top.

      "To tell the truth we were sent here partly to get Carlos out of the country. Now all that is changed --- but the move must be done in such a hurry," Jean divulges. As is quite frequent in A Dance to the Music of Time, a glimmer of another plot is given. There is more to Colonel Flores than we know, and by the instability and corruption of the Venezuelan government nothing is out of the question.

Sources:

http://www.jstor.org/stable/view/165526?seq=5

http://www.wikipedia.org

Parodies:

Assumptions of Autarchy v Dynamics of Adjustment: Trapnel's Parody of Widmerpool

James Seman

      As I am sure we are all aware, the war is finally over. After a successful military career, I was a full Colonel by the time it finished, I do not assert that I have finally gained a position of real power, but I am currently on seven subcommittees and three committees, not a bad first showing for a junior MP. In addition to that I am also working closely with the deputy assistant sub-minister of Economic Warfare that, although not as large as it was at its wartime peak, is still a powerful and influential office.

      Now that the war is over, we must move with the times so that our country can gain the economic benefits that are sure to follow from being victors. Having won the war, we now need to exploit the circumstances by accepting new ideas. Once of the first of these new ideas is the gold standard. We need to get off the gold standard and increase the currency supply. At the present rate of inflation and depreciation, the benefits of fixing our dependence on the gold standard are, I trust, immediately evident. We can see that the derivative points of the wartime bonds will be increased, thus giving the government more economic power, helping along the transition from a wartime economy to a peacetime one.

      If you plot the ratio of the derivative points to the price to earnings ratio of a selection of companies that traditionally have performed well as benchmarks, the graph that you get clearly shows a relationship that makes it clear just how important the very existence of the gold standard is with a convincing lead over the rest of the time, because of the massive impact that it has. The optimum factor in this graph is evident simply from the presentation that is right in front. What needs to be done is fairly clear, although, it could be just in my mind that the decision needs to be made immediately. An immediate decision would do much to help end the whole conflict that has arisen of late, with the peace dividends that we have seen since the end of war.

      It is to these dividends that I now turn. The effect of the increased influx of capital from certain governmental organizations is quite telling. With the end of the war though, this capital will not go to waste, instead, it is to be needed in the future as inflation catches up on the present pause in the postwar inflationary era. Instead, the flux of capital will have to shift from the more military-industrial sphere to the more immediately useful socio-economic sphere.

      I find myself in complete agreement with MP C. Thullu of a small town in Wales, as he has proposed that the state initiate a program to determine how much energy can be extracted from the atom, against the cyclical monopoly resistance of the bourgeoisie. Some experiments that have taken place in the United States suggest that in the future "nuclear power" could provide much of the electricity that would be needed. This future energy source could create enough energy to truly bring power to the people, in fact, it could be argued that nuclear power plants are, in some small but significant way, communist.

      The implications of both of these things are clear. The issue with the ratio of the derivative points vs. inflation can be fixed with just a little bit of government support: by fixing the current system based on the gold standard. By doing this, the government will also be able to free up even more capital that will then see constructive use in the socio-economic sphere. This influx will prove to be very important as time goes on, and as the current crop of up and coming novice MPs mature, the impact will be even stronger.

Trapnel Meets Mrs. Widmerpool

Corey Simpson

      I'll admit it wasn't exactly love at first sight. More like loathing actually, at least on her part. All I thought, when I spotted her across the room, was that here was a nice little piece who was looking bored, poor girl, and why not have a bit of a chat with her? She seemed already to be acquainted with my friend Nick, so I hovered about hoping for an introduction. Nick eventually obliged.

      "Pamela, this is X. Trapnel. He's published a novel-perhaps you've read it?-and he does reviews for Fission. Trappy, this is Pamela Widmerpool."

      I could see right off that she wasn't going to make much pretense of being pleased to make my acquaintance. On first catching sight of me, her features twisted into a look of such disgust that I almost leapt back, but the fact that those features were otherwise quite charming kept me from bolting. Perhaps she merely had a pain.

      Nick had neglected to explain her presence at the party, the cad, so I set about trying to place her. I decided she must be some sort of writer.

      "Are you doing something for Fission?"

      She stared at me as though I had begun sprouting extra heads. I persisted for a bit, but after a few more half-hearted stabs at conversation I gave it up as a bad job. The girl made herself scarce, and I couldn't help laughing as I turned to Nick.

      "Who is she?"

      "I told you-Mrs. Widmerpool."

      " Widmerpool, eh? I imagine I'd be cross too if I were married to that pompous drone, but even so…"I can't say I was much taken with Mrs. Widmerpool," I informed Nick. "Is that how she always behaves?"

      "Quite often."

      "Girls like that are not in my line. I don't care how smashing they look. I need a decent standard of manners."

      Still, after that I couldn't help watching her out of the corner of my eye. I had no interest in pursuing her, of course. She was rude and haughty and she cut anyone that tried to talk to her and I disliked her enormously. But she really did look rather smashing.

      I was a bit hard up at that moment-couldn't quite afford my taxi, in fact. I resolved to try to borrow a few quid off Widmerpool. It was likely his fault that his wife was so bloody rude, I reasoned, and therefore he owed me something. He only forked over one bob, and very grudgingly too, but as it was just enough to get me home I saw no reason to complain. I even offered him a lift, but he refused. A pity-I'd have liked to see where his flat is. Just to glimpse how the other half lives, of course. Nothing more than idle curiosity. Purely academic.

Widmerpool's Private Eye: The Untold Story
(in the style of Julian Maclaren-Ross)

Alex Svec

      The name's Quickshot, Buddy Quickshot, at least that's what I tell my clients. I'm a private eye. I'm known for two things, the way I handle my cases, and the way I handle my drink. It was dark, cold, rainy night when he came in. I was in deep conversation with a close friend of mine, my hipflask, and was about to strike up another one with the bottle of bourbon I keep in my bottom drawer. He was a sorry bloke, soaked through and rather clumsy. For whatever reason he seemed to hold himself quite high. I was planning on taking the night off, but then again, business wasn't as good as it had always been, and I had nasty relationship with a couple loan sharks. He claimed to have woman problems, who doesn't? He told me he suspected his wife was cheating on him; I didn't bother to ask why.

      I headed out into the dark underbelly of London armed with a cigarette, my cosh, and a description of the broad I was supposed to follow. Pretty soon I realized I needed two things, a lead, and a drink. I knew where to find one. An hour later I was back on the streets. I needed to start somewhere, so I paid a visit to an old friend of mine. She called herself Chastity. She wasn't the type of girl you brought home to mom. We had always had a good arrangement -- I kept the wineglass full; she kept the bed warm. I went to her place hoping to shed some light on the situation. I left a few hours later with only my wallet lighter. No further along than I was six hours ago I decided to call it a night. I was almost back at my place when I got jumped. There were three of them. Good odds for me any day. I was handling things pretty well, until the fourth bloke came from behind; lights out.

      I woke up the next morning in some back alley. I needed a drink; bad. I asked the guy lying next to me; no dice. Walking once again to my apartment, head feeling like it had a run in with the business end of a log splitter, I couldn't help but wonder if the mugging was coincidence or not. Maybe I gave Chastity a bit too much information, whatever the reason, someone wanted me out of the picture, and I wasn't careful next time there would be no next time. Instead of landing in my apartment I found myself once again in my office. I went out back to the small firing range I have to squeeze off a few rounds. I took ten shots; six were lead, the other four - bourbon. There was too much running through my head. Who was this Widmerpool bloke anyway? How did he score a trophy wife? And who were the monkeys trying to rub me off? I went to the one place I knew where both information and drinks come cheap.

      The seedy pub - both its name and its description -- many of the patrons there would sell their own mothers if you were offering enough coin. I ordered a drink, "Death Comes for the Archbishop." It tasted like battery acid mixed with motor oil; I ordered two more. I was getting somewhere with one of the regulars, when she walked in. The sight of her hit me harder than the slug of a .45. There could no mistaking, Widmerpool's broad had just walked in the door; Pamela Flitton. I reminded myself to remain cool; I was no use if I blew my cover. Business first as they say, and if I had anything to say about it we'd be doing business back at my place all night long. She hung around a good two hours, teasing the bar staff before she finally took off, I made sure to keep a good distance between us. I'd caught a lucky break and I knew it, but I wasn't about to complain. After tailing her for twenty minutes she ended up at a residence I soon identified as X Trapnel's. Another case solved. The Widmerpool bloke came in the next day and paid up. With paper once again in my pocket I decided I'd earned a few nights off. Anyways, I needed a drink.

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