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Re: VN and Freud
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James Twiggs:In my opinion, one’s reading of Pale Fire is the crucial test case. Is the book an expression of skepticism or a profession of faith? If forced to say one or the other, I have always leaned toward the first of these alternatives, largely because that’s where the comedy is richest, darkest, and deepest...
JM: Last Sunday I finally managed to outline one of my theories about "Pale Fire" (which is still awaiting to be posted here). I consider that in Pale Fire ( and elsewhere) Nabokov has tried both ways (express his skepticism and make a profession of faith). Like his former Invitation to a Beheading and Bend Sinister also Pale Fire should be read from the perspective of its being a novel about "bunglings" (police, spies, doctors, poets, metaphysicians, parents, aso). A cruel satire, parody, pastiche (you choose) about mankind and society. I try to demonstrate, through Shade's two mentions about the word "hope" in his poem, that Nabokov was trying to express, by distinguishing "real life in fiction" from "fictional life in fiction", while blending them in a particular way at the same time [like he does in the sparkling chapters of "Mademoiselle" ( I think, didn't check it now), when he holds a ball of American snow in his cupped hand and is transported to the snow in Vyra held by him as a small boy ].... well, that he is indicating his hope that his fatherland, Russia, will recover from its plight and conquer a former "majesty." A patriotic moment, while remaining loyal to his new adopted country. The "Restauration" theme all over again, a personal hope in the afterlife extended to his country.
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JM: Last Sunday I finally managed to outline one of my theories about "Pale Fire" (which is still awaiting to be posted here). I consider that in Pale Fire ( and elsewhere) Nabokov has tried both ways (express his skepticism and make a profession of faith). Like his former Invitation to a Beheading and Bend Sinister also Pale Fire should be read from the perspective of its being a novel about "bunglings" (police, spies, doctors, poets, metaphysicians, parents, aso). A cruel satire, parody, pastiche (you choose) about mankind and society. I try to demonstrate, through Shade's two mentions about the word "hope" in his poem, that Nabokov was trying to express, by distinguishing "real life in fiction" from "fictional life in fiction", while blending them in a particular way at the same time [like he does in the sparkling chapters of "Mademoiselle" ( I think, didn't check it now), when he holds a ball of American snow in his cupped hand and is transported to the snow in Vyra held by him as a small boy ].... well, that he is indicating his hope that his fatherland, Russia, will recover from its plight and conquer a former "majesty." A patriotic moment, while remaining loyal to his new adopted country. The "Restauration" theme all over again, a personal hope in the afterlife extended to his country.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
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
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/