Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0016271, Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:26:10 -0400

Subject
Re: SIGNS: Paragraphs 1-3
Date
Body
2nd paragraph: the light finds fault with mother's white aging skin without
makeup, color or adornment. It's an instance of nature troubling mother, as
nature troubles son by being vibrant with evil directed towards him. Mrs.
Sol is the sun. Age and humiliation have traumatized the parents. Isaac
the prince is the savior (angel of light—this is humiliating). His nickname
indicates resentment and humiliation. Mrs. Sol gives off light (but it's
garish), like merciless sun does, but mother is drab and does not take care
about her appearance. It seems women their age cannot win if these are
their only two options for appearance. This is the way it is. It neither
is nor is not the parents' fault. ... Mother is the blank glaring light on
whom/which is projected son's inner life, or each parent's inner life
(mother defers to father).

3rd paragraph: Loss of life‑current between two stations (train) (parents
and son). Alienation: "dutiful beating of one's heart"—"dutiful" (with one
all the time) and "rustling of papers"—alienated in public. Waiting. In
public. Rain. Mud. Another attempted suicide, this time on the birthday
visit. What about the parents' judgment in not leaving the present? Anxiety
about his not getting it (an object).
Barrie Karp
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