Well, I only postulated the possibility of it modifying the first word; I didn't bank on it. The cultural inside-reference, once you know it, remains either way.
AaronFW wrote:
I perceive the “despite them” to be somewhat a short hand of “despite who they are, i.e. that they are cursed with misfortune.”
Which basically follows the gist of my initial question, and my wondering if the phrase was intended as a modifier. So I'm not sure which side of the fence you're really on, here. Not that there needs to be a fence.
Because of your statement above, I find myself doubting that you read Duggan's source material as to how the name MacGregor and the words "despite them" are inexorably linked. There's your inside reference, and it's pretty clear, once you know it. Thus armed, it can be used as a modifier outside of its specific cultural context and yet still remain within it - it would work, if the writer's given to subtlety - but as I said, maybe it's just bad writing. Bad writing is bad because it's unclear. I have no doubt that the writer had no investment whatsoever in being understood by those not in the know, but the downside to that is that the uninformed (like myself, at the time) come away thinking the writer's just being uncharitable.
IOW, in a case like this where a cultural reference is very "inside" indeed, misunderstandings on the part of the casual observer are bound to happen.
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