Subject
morals and mortals
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Date
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> Yet in this respect they seem to be really terrible parents, the kind of
parents who take a child with a problem and make it ten times worse by their
visible disappointment in the child for having the problem at all.
There are other examples of such unrepentant "moral weakness" in VN oeuvre.
Ganin plies Alferov with drink so that he could run away with Mary (he
changed his mind). Martyn does not consider what his exploit will do to his
Mother (it did). Charlotte does not think much of her teenage daughter when
she marries Humbert (she did not die because of that). Luzin jumps out the
window after saying to his loving wife "Bylo horosho" (in Russian version).
At the same time morally likable characters like Vasiliy Ivanovich,
Cincinnatus, Krug are mercilessly punished and are relieved only at the
threshold of the story, with strange exception of Pnin, the only morally
sympathetic character in PF. As if foreseeing our moral indigestion, VN,
being a good chief, added him for a healthy supplement.
I think VN used his characters to the fullest and disposed of them right
after they served his needs. Morals in his works are not direct, not a
starting point. They are byproducts, side effects, almost afterthoughts on
reader's part. May be part of the reason is that morals are shared medium,
which in a way is antidote to art. Good art that cannot be repeated or
shared - only followed, shaded ;).
Should we object to VN inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on his
characters? Does it lessen our enjoyment of his works and words? And if not
how that is different from weak parenting by Shades and from moral
imperfections of other protagonists listed above?
In parting I want to say that Nabokov-L is not a popularity contest of
literary theories as someone hinted - but an exchange of ideas on how to be
a better reader of VN. Being a good listener is a must.
- George Shimanovich
Search <http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html> the Nabokv-L
archive at UCSB
Contact <mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu> the Editors
All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both
co-editors.
Visit Zembla <http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm>
View Nabokv-L Policies <http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm>
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
parents who take a child with a problem and make it ten times worse by their
visible disappointment in the child for having the problem at all.
There are other examples of such unrepentant "moral weakness" in VN oeuvre.
Ganin plies Alferov with drink so that he could run away with Mary (he
changed his mind). Martyn does not consider what his exploit will do to his
Mother (it did). Charlotte does not think much of her teenage daughter when
she marries Humbert (she did not die because of that). Luzin jumps out the
window after saying to his loving wife "Bylo horosho" (in Russian version).
At the same time morally likable characters like Vasiliy Ivanovich,
Cincinnatus, Krug are mercilessly punished and are relieved only at the
threshold of the story, with strange exception of Pnin, the only morally
sympathetic character in PF. As if foreseeing our moral indigestion, VN,
being a good chief, added him for a healthy supplement.
I think VN used his characters to the fullest and disposed of them right
after they served his needs. Morals in his works are not direct, not a
starting point. They are byproducts, side effects, almost afterthoughts on
reader's part. May be part of the reason is that morals are shared medium,
which in a way is antidote to art. Good art that cannot be repeated or
shared - only followed, shaded ;).
Should we object to VN inflicting cruel and unusual punishment on his
characters? Does it lessen our enjoyment of his works and words? And if not
how that is different from weak parenting by Shades and from moral
imperfections of other protagonists listed above?
In parting I want to say that Nabokov-L is not a popularity contest of
literary theories as someone hinted - but an exchange of ideas on how to be
a better reader of VN. Being a good listener is a must.
- George Shimanovich
Search <http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html> the Nabokv-L
archive at UCSB
Contact <mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu> the Editors
All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both
co-editors.
Visit Zembla <http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm>
View Nabokv-L Policies <http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm>
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm