Post by MikeG on Mar 23, 2004 15:20:41 GMT -5
A few notes on Chapter Eight - Why isn't Mr Poe as helpful as he ought to be?:
1. Notice that each of the 3 letters (to Nero, mystery person, and Poe) - which are in response to letters probably written by Olaf - request something very specific to the person addressed. (i.e. ban books / remove telephone poles / ignore telegrams at the bank)
2. The individuals sending the return letters seem to have enough authority / abillity to perform the actions. (Nero = Vice Principal; Poe = Chief Banker)
3. The Mystery person must have enough authority to chop down the poles on RRR. Who would have that authority - perhaps a judge, mayor, or police officer (if it was an immediate concern)? Perhaps someone in the Villiage of Fowl Devotees like a Council member or even Hector (as a person that does the "chores") ? (where is RRR located?)
4. Each writer mentions that they only read a certain section of the paper. (Nero: Music section ; Poe: Financial section; Mystery Person: about "those three vicious children")
5. My theory is that relevant VFD information is communicated to different members through the paper. Each person depending on their profession is to read a different section ONLY. This is how info is passed on to VFD'ers. The responses back to the paper are coded with similiar tag phrases so that the Daily Punctillo VFDrs know that the information was recieved.
6. This suggests that Nero is in VFD, as is Poe and the mystery person - most likely one of the Council people - or perhaps Hector - in the Villiage.
7. Remember that VFDrs might not know about the schism. They are getting their VFD updates from Lemony and Eleanora from the DP. When Olaf and his associates took things over, they posed as editors/writers. That's why Lemony was trying to get the word out about the paper being overtaken.
8. Nero wouldn't know what is true or not true regarding the children / schism. Since Prufrock is a place to determine which kids are VFD quality and train them accordingly, K ran off with some recruits when she realized that Nero though that the Daily Punctillo info was accurate (i.e. still coming from Eleanora). K would have known the truth about the schism. Apparently she was called in to Prufrock by the good side of VFD to assess who the school was siding with (which was with Olaf). That's why the kids have no training and sit and stare at the camera. Hector - if it was him who chopped down the poles - would haven't known either, hence his hesitation to help at first. Then he helped after he was convinced of the Olaf / schism situation.
9 Side note - I think the theater was another way of passing coded info on to members - just like the movies / Sebal code is used.
10. The Mr. Poe - Eleanora lunch was at the time Geraldine was hired. She was working for Olaf and Eleanora hadn't yet been locked in the basement. Poe suspected something fishy. Nonetheless, he would have to rely on info from the DP and Olaf knew he wouldn't have read the other sections besides the Financial section so he sent him the separate message posing as Eleanora.
11. What is written on the photo of the children on the dress of the girl in the front row? Is it a clue? Also, I assume that it relates to Mr K. (from the picture on the last page of the chapter). I assume it's K since she's taken out of the picture on pg 127 - hence a suggestion of her leaving the school.
12. Final random thought: any chance that Poe's cough is another signal to suggest a code that's about to follow (i.e. the "ring" in the Sebald code)? It wouldn't be the same code obviously, but has anyone looked for clues?
Ahh - too much is happening in this small chapter! Sorry I couldn't collect my thoughts in a more concise manner.
1. Notice that each of the 3 letters (to Nero, mystery person, and Poe) - which are in response to letters probably written by Olaf - request something very specific to the person addressed. (i.e. ban books / remove telephone poles / ignore telegrams at the bank)
2. The individuals sending the return letters seem to have enough authority / abillity to perform the actions. (Nero = Vice Principal; Poe = Chief Banker)
3. The Mystery person must have enough authority to chop down the poles on RRR. Who would have that authority - perhaps a judge, mayor, or police officer (if it was an immediate concern)? Perhaps someone in the Villiage of Fowl Devotees like a Council member or even Hector (as a person that does the "chores") ? (where is RRR located?)
4. Each writer mentions that they only read a certain section of the paper. (Nero: Music section ; Poe: Financial section; Mystery Person: about "those three vicious children")
5. My theory is that relevant VFD information is communicated to different members through the paper. Each person depending on their profession is to read a different section ONLY. This is how info is passed on to VFD'ers. The responses back to the paper are coded with similiar tag phrases so that the Daily Punctillo VFDrs know that the information was recieved.
6. This suggests that Nero is in VFD, as is Poe and the mystery person - most likely one of the Council people - or perhaps Hector - in the Villiage.
7. Remember that VFDrs might not know about the schism. They are getting their VFD updates from Lemony and Eleanora from the DP. When Olaf and his associates took things over, they posed as editors/writers. That's why Lemony was trying to get the word out about the paper being overtaken.
8. Nero wouldn't know what is true or not true regarding the children / schism. Since Prufrock is a place to determine which kids are VFD quality and train them accordingly, K ran off with some recruits when she realized that Nero though that the Daily Punctillo info was accurate (i.e. still coming from Eleanora). K would have known the truth about the schism. Apparently she was called in to Prufrock by the good side of VFD to assess who the school was siding with (which was with Olaf). That's why the kids have no training and sit and stare at the camera. Hector - if it was him who chopped down the poles - would haven't known either, hence his hesitation to help at first. Then he helped after he was convinced of the Olaf / schism situation.
9 Side note - I think the theater was another way of passing coded info on to members - just like the movies / Sebal code is used.
10. The Mr. Poe - Eleanora lunch was at the time Geraldine was hired. She was working for Olaf and Eleanora hadn't yet been locked in the basement. Poe suspected something fishy. Nonetheless, he would have to rely on info from the DP and Olaf knew he wouldn't have read the other sections besides the Financial section so he sent him the separate message posing as Eleanora.
11. What is written on the photo of the children on the dress of the girl in the front row? Is it a clue? Also, I assume that it relates to Mr K. (from the picture on the last page of the chapter). I assume it's K since she's taken out of the picture on pg 127 - hence a suggestion of her leaving the school.
12. Final random thought: any chance that Poe's cough is another signal to suggest a code that's about to follow (i.e. the "ring" in the Sebald code)? It wouldn't be the same code obviously, but has anyone looked for clues?
Ahh - too much is happening in this small chapter! Sorry I couldn't collect my thoughts in a more concise manner.