Alexei asked this question about Girl, Interrupted:
What's so special about the name Polly? There's a character in the book, Polly, who set herself on fire. Kaysen writes: "Her name was Polly. This name must have seemed ridiculous to her in the days-- or months--when she was planning to set herself on fire, but it suited her well in her slipcovered, survivor life." Why would this name seem ridiculous prior to the self-immolation incident and suit her afterwards?
Jon I suspect the answer is just projection by Kaysen. Kaysen herself felt very much mismatched to handle reality, and that comment may just be her way to…moreI suspect the answer is just projection by Kaysen. Kaysen herself felt very much mismatched to handle reality, and that comment may just be her way to explain her own feelings going into and then getting settled in that new life. (less)
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Alexei This is not some random need for reason, I'm actually revising a translation of this book, and the literal translation just doesn't make any sense. If ...more
Feb 20, 2018 10:21PM · flag
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Jon Gotcha!
Feb 21, 2018 11:23AM · flag
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