Jesse’s Reviews > Mosquitoes > Status Update

The epilogue offers more character beats, revealing some of the realities of the characters, like Mrs Maurier’s backstory or the enigmatic Pete’s big Italian family. It’s a fun way to extend the lives of the actors off into the sunset. I’m bummed that we didn’t get more of Eva, but I think that Satyricon and her advances toward Patricia showed some of her hidden hand.

The fourth day offers no big climax, really. Faulkner has used this space to develop his characters and he keeps at it, sometimes humorously and in a few spots with some of the most jarring chauvinism from the dime store philosophers that I’ve read in quite some time. Apart from that, it’s magnificent comedy, with deeper character moments lurking beneath the surface.

The third day features Patricia’s misadventure with David, the two attempting to elope and getting hopelessly lost and eaten up by Mosquitos, and the comedy of the people still on the boat, most of it revolving around Jenny. The harsh reality of Patricia’s journey through swamp and road and back again is a big character moment given how infallible she has been up to this point.

The second day develops the interpersonal relationships and includes Patricia maybe moving on from Gordon to the steward; Jenny teasingly acquiescing to Mr. Talliaferro; and Gordon blasting apart Mrs. Maurier’s ego with a casual but harsh evaluation of her with his sculptor’s eyes. I have NO idea where this is all going but it has the sort of manic energy of The Sundial without the malice.

The first day develops the building romance between Gordon and the tomboyish Patricia while offering plenty of humorous banter during the cruise. There’s the dour Pete, the battle of tall tales between the Americans and Major Ayers, and the repeatedly scandalized Mrs. Maurier with her inserted asides. We also have the first instance of artificial trouble brewing with Theodore’s quest in the engine room.