Percy-L: Literary, Religious, Scientific, and Philosophical Discussion of Walker Percy

["Karl M. Terrell" <kterrell AT stokeswagner.com>]

I agree.  It was carefully chosen.  Both are caught up in the times; both are 
exercising their will over the maid, the liberal housewife actually more so.

-----Original Message-----
From: Percy-L [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Ken 
Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 11:33 AM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] LITR Slow Read - Chapter 1 - "July Fourth"

> The liberal housewife, therefore, must "make" the maid sit up front 
> with her.

Well explained, but "make" seems carefully chosen as well. The liberal 
housewife does not "ask" or "invite" her maid to sit beside her - the maid, 
after all, might find the invitation discomfiting - but makes her sit there, 
exercising her will over her maid just as the conservative woman does.

-----Original Message-----
From: Karl M. Terrell
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 10:20 AM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] LITR Slow Read - Chapter 1 - "July Fourth"

"Have" is more passive than "make."  A more forceful action (and verb) was 
unnecessary.  It was the "old style," backed by unspoken custom.  If the maid 
were to violate the rule and drop into the front seat, the conservative 
housewife would have frowned uncomfortably.  Some would have been quick to 
redirect the maid to the back seat, and would have done so with an icy 
sweetness -- "Annie Mae, no; you'll be much more comfortable in the back 
seat."

The liberal housewife, therefore, must "make" the maid sit up front with her.

Such as it was, it in the 'go fetch the maid' days of the Jim Crow world 
Percy knew.

-----Original Message-----
From: Percy-L [mailto:percy-l-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of RHONDA 
MCDONNELL
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2014 1:26 AM
To: Percy-L: Literary and Philosophical Discussion
Subject: Re: [percy-l] LITR Slow Read - Chapter 1 - "July Fourth"



> On Jun 30, 2014, at 7:31 AM, "Karl M. Terrell" <kterrell AT stokeswagner.com> 
> wrote:
>
> while conservative Christian housewives have their maids ride in the back 
> seat, in the “old style” … “Liberal housewives make their maids ride on 
> the front seat”

I have the same passage highlighted in my book.  I wonder, what is the 
difference between the verbs "have" and "make"? In either case, none of the 
housewives "let" the maids ride where the will.

Interesting also that Tom's women have jobs in the midst of this housewife 
dotted paradise he describes.
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