" I tend to read this as a sort of (very quiet) coming-out."
This is our first real meeting with Miranda herself rather than the reported-Miranda we know from AT and immediately we are introduced to her relationship with Jan. In that way it is obviously an important part of her character, and I do see it as signalling this to the reader (presumably deliberately: did this ever get raised with AF while she was dismissing Tim and Lawrie?). That Miranda has "a thing for" Janice, is definitely acknowledged between her and Nicola, but I do not get any hint from the text that either of them are aware of this in the sense of a precursor to lesbian identity for Miranda: so in that way, I do not think it is even a quiet coming out. Later (CT) they discuss Miranda having watched Janice when she was in Kindergarten and how "faithful" Miranda has been. It is not until this conversation that Nicola realises how important Janice is to Miranda. And even then I am not sure either of them recognise it as anything else. That's not to say I disagree with you that that is where Miranda is heading!
I imagine many of us (however we define ourselves now) read this passage through the lens of our own experiences as girls/children, and undoubtedly I am doing so myself.
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timeasmymeasure
Miranda - coming out?
Date: 2014-08-29 01:15 pm (UTC)This is our first real meeting with Miranda herself rather than the reported-Miranda we know from AT and immediately we are introduced to her relationship with Jan. In that way it is obviously an important part of her character, and I do see it as signalling this to the reader (presumably deliberately: did this ever get raised with AF while she was dismissing Tim and Lawrie?). That Miranda has "a thing for" Janice, is definitely acknowledged between her and Nicola, but I do not get any hint from the text that either of them are aware of this in the sense of a precursor to lesbian identity for Miranda: so in that way, I do not think it is even a quiet coming out. Later (CT) they discuss Miranda having watched Janice when she was in Kindergarten and how "faithful" Miranda has been. It is not until this conversation that Nicola realises how important Janice is to Miranda. And even then I am not sure either of them recognise it as anything else. That's not to say I disagree with you that that is where Miranda is heading!
I imagine many of us (however we define ourselves now) read this passage through the lens of our own experiences as girls/children, and undoubtedly I am doing so myself.