“Adrian offered to drive us back to our hotel. Bennett stiffly refused. But then when we were unable to get a taxi, Bennett finally gave in—without even the courtesy of a word or a nod in Adrian’s direction. Adrian shrugged and took the wheel. I doubled myself up in the midget-sized backseat. This time Bennett directed and we did not get lost. But throughout the whole ride, there was a terrible silence between us, except for the directions Bennett offered” (198-199).
Throughout the novel, getting lost is an obvious recurring theme. Virtually every time Isadora is with Adrian, they get lost. The only thing Adrian can offer Isadora is adventure and laughter. He cannot guide her through her life. He cannot show her what will benefit her in the long run. He cannot promise her security. His lack of direction mirrors his own existential way of life. When you do not look to the future, you are doomed to take wrong turn after wrong turn until you find yourself in a place you never had any intention being.
However, the very lack of security Adrian offers—the lack of structure—is what draws Isadora to him; she is sick of the safe and therefore boring Bennett. But, in the passage, it appears that Bennett is the one who is truly good for her. Once Bennett incontrovertibly sees that Isadora has been unfaithful, he is able to take hold of the situation which is now plain to all—even if it is spoken by none. Bennett is the one who navigates the road for the three of them. Bennett is the one that they must all depend on to “not get lost.” Adrian’s complacent take on life is highlighted by the fact that he “shrugs” when it is decided that he will take Bennett and Isadora back to their hotel. Even though he may be boring, Bennett is a man of forward-moving action. Even though he may be fun, Adrian is a man content with dwindling his life away on winding paths with no sense of true purpose or destination.
Furthermore, Isadora’s dependency on men in her life is emphasized in this passage. She has longed for the perfect man—a man who she thinks could possibly come into being if the sharply contrasting Bennett and Adrian were fused together as one being. A slave to her female desires, Isadora has lived her life according to men—even when this is the exact thing she tried so hard to avoid. But with her lover and husband brought together, Isadora is “doubled...up” in the back seat. She has no say in what will happen next, which roads they will take, how fast they’ll get there, and if they’ll ever talk about what happened the previous night. She is forced to take a back seat and fulfill her destined role as a submissive female. The men hold the power in the car, and Bennett will get them where they need to go—if he is just given the chance.
I really enjoyed reading your analysis and I totally agree. Adrian fails to provide that Bennett does. He is the very epitome of the man Isadora wants to engage in a zipless fuck. Just from his physical appearance, you could tell that this man has no sense of direction. I also agree with Isadora taking a back seat to Adrian and Bennett, the men who control her life.
ReplyDeleteI never noticed how being lost with Adrian is a symbol for being lost in life with him. That's a really interesting analysis! I agree; he cannot guide her through life even though he adds that element of surprise and excitement.
ReplyDeleteI commented on Shannon's post earlier about how I am confused about whether or not Isadora is a feminist. There are times through which her behavior and attitude make her seem like an ultra-feminist. Other times, however, namely through the dependency you mentioned, she seems like she can't get by in life without a man (or two) by her side. Just goes to show how complex her character is. The awkwardness between the three of them following that bizarre incident is the first time she is faced with both of them at the same time, which is partly why this scene is so important.