Jones getting political traction in SF. He continues to dominate his "flock" in ways that are hard to understand. He tells them who they can couple with, if they can split up, he takes their money, doesn't allow private accounts. Guyana settlement has started. The first group actually liked it . . . until Jones arrived. A feeling of living out a socialist dream in harmony with nature. Tough but ideologically satisfying. Jones, all this time, is becoming more paranoid. He pretends at one meeting to have poisoned everyone, speaks glowing of mass suicide, fears FBI and CIA. New West article paints damning portrait of the temple based on interviews with fallen away members. Jones decides it's time to go. The only politician who stays on his side is Willie Brown. The others go quiet. Attorney is Charles Garry of Black Panthers fame. "I'm like Perry Mason, only all my clients are guilty."
"To all humankind, Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends, she was only a frequently passing thought." Angel Clare is a good character. He's "enlightened," in so many ways, but when Tess's confesses her "crime," he reverts to ancestral form . . . Tess's "confession" comes earlier than I expected, right after Angel reveals that he has had a bad moment with a woman. Tess points out the similarity in their transgressions, though his is the only true transgression, expecting forgiveness. She doesn't get it. She returns to her mother . . . realizes she can't stay with her. Thoughts to suicide. Unhappiness that divorce is not possible. Departs. Tragic in that the two, if Angel could just see clearly, would indeed be a great couple, each adding to the other. Nature as a definite force involved in the tragedy. It's not neutral--when things go bad, the very skies mock Tess. Tess as unaware of the power of her bea...
Comments
Post a Comment