>nah, yo
>
>while the commodore certainly isn't a saint, i don't believe
>for one minute that gillian wasn't in complete control all
>along. she knew what she was doin', and she put herself in
>position to make moves.
>
>rape is atrocious.
>
>that bein' said, she knew the kind of men she was dealin'
>with, and put herself on display to get their attention with
>the sole purpose of gettin' over usin' any and every advantage
>she could find.
>
>i certainly understand how she altered her plans along the
>way, though. any dreams she might've had about gettin' over on
>the commodore went out the window once he raped her. since
>then, she's been plottin' his demise (she damn-near killed him
>on her own). at the same time, she's been playin' jimmy and
>puttin' him into position to rise in power, while remainin'
>the puppeteer behind the scenes.
>
>that's well beyond "gettin' by"
>
>
>..and miles to go before i sleep...


so as we're armchair psychoanalyzing, I think we're in the same place.
As a youngin, did she make the most of her looks and youth by being fast and in a place to be chose? Sure.

I'm saying the hardening of that ambition, the cruelty, the straight sociopathy was not in the initial placement in the Commodore's gaze. It was being a young girl raped and dumped with a baby in the early 1900's.

And by "get by" I mean she has no other understanding as to how to live. None. it's not that she's callous, it's her lack of awareness that's so frightening. And shit, to get to this point, doing what she's done, there's no way to tell her right from wrong.

I see her manipulation as less a means of overt cunning, and more a survival tactic/M.O.

damaged people damage people
hurt people hurt people

she couldnt be "good" to Jimmy or anyone else if she tried. Though she's of the impression that she is. She's just straight fucked up, B.