Meeting with the Mentor

Karen's Energy, Jerry's Stasis

Now that Jerry Downing has entered the world of work in a publishing house, his line manager, Karen Glinda, becomes his ally and mentor. On his first day of work she buys him a drink. Later on in the week she buys him a coffee, nursing him like little baby. Her productive energy counters Jerry’s passive invalidity, replacing the inadequacy of Nicholas Downing as a father figure. Like Kerry, Karen buys Jerry a drink in the pub, but unlike Kerry, Karen enables him to move on with his novel. Because of this, Karen replaces Kerry as well by becoming his girl Friday, relegating Kerry to the position of Miss Lonelyheart. Karen Glinda is the key to unlocking Jerry’s novel.