Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0016900, Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:57:46 +0100

Subject
Re: borrowed from Vladimir N abokov¹s Lolita ...
Date
Body
Anthony: I do agree that H-H¹s attitude cannot be described ³simply as
remorse.² Or ³simply² as anything for that matter! I was quoting the
confused reviewer who, misreading H-H¹s ³shame² completely, bemoans the fact
that Evison¹s William shows no remorse at all, as if a writer having the
gall to ³borrow from Lolita² must also endow his characters with VN¹s moral
subtleties. Apart from calling the young victim Lulu, there¹s nothing much
of the Lolita plot, and, as David Powelstock¹s percipient posting declared,
much more, given the ages/activities of the siblings Will/Lulu, of the
³Ada-incest² theme. A reviewer with Nabokovian pretentions might well have
explored any parallels between Van¹s and Will¹s shame or lack of.

I like VN¹s non-Dantean notion of an evening¹s parole for Humbert-in-Hell
each year. Was this earned by the monster¹s odd moments of regret? If so,
VN has resolved one of my paradoxes: the sincerity of H-H¹s confession! God,
I¹m told by those who know Her, sees through phony remorse.

skb

On 08/08/2008 15:37, "Anthony Stadlen" <STADLEN@AOL.COM> wrote:

> In a message dated 08/08/2008 14:22:40 GMT Standard Time, skb@BOOTLE.BIZ
> writes:
>> Evison is slated as "derivative" at one stage, yet blamed later in the
>> review because Will shows none of H-H's remorse.
> Nabokov is much too subtle, and also too morally straightforward, a writer for
> Humbert's attitude to be described simply as "remorse". Nabokov (in "Strong
> Opinions" merely grants him one evening's parole a year from Hell. Somebody
> truly remorseful would not have gone on to murder Quilty on the grounds that
> Quilty did not recognise Humbert's essential inner innocence! I have often
> commented on the moral bankruptcy of much of the discussion by literary people
> of what are quite simple, but in no way simplistic, moral issues.
>
> Anthony Stadlen
>


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