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Re: THOUGHTS: Hazel Shade & Catskin/Catkins
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--- Matthew Roth <MRoth@MESSIAH.EDU> wrote:
> As some of you know, I am working on a (wildly unpopular) argument which
> posits an incestuous relationship between John Shade and his daughter
> Hazel. I can't get into all of the premises here (contact me off-list if
> you are interested) except to say that there is a network of allusions
> to cannibalism which are inextricably intertwined with notions of
> incest.
A lot to think about here, especially Cat-skin *shudder*. I'm just
going to comment on a matter of fact.
[snip]
> a. Boyd sees this as a foreshadowing image of Hazel's
> transformation from Toothwort White into Red Admirable. (Btw, has anyone
> ever pointed out that Toothwort--the plant--specifically feeds on Hazel
> roots? I have not found this noted anywhere in Boyd or elsewhere).
That's a different Toothwort. The (larval) butterfly, being a
relative of the cabbage butterflies, must feed on plants of the
genus /Cardamine/, in the cabbage family, some of which are
called toothworts. Those plants are found around the world.
The parasitic toothworts, found only in temperate Eurasia, are
members of the genus /Lathraea/ in the broomrape (that word!)
family. Also, the Common Toothwort parasitize the alder as well
as the hazel. (Information from Wikipedia.)
Maybe some reference to the European-versus-American-names
theme, though.
By the way, thanks for the off-list correction that "unicursal
bicircular quartic" is in Webster's Second. What were they
thinking? But VN must have been delighted to find it.
Jerry Friedman
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> As some of you know, I am working on a (wildly unpopular) argument which
> posits an incestuous relationship between John Shade and his daughter
> Hazel. I can't get into all of the premises here (contact me off-list if
> you are interested) except to say that there is a network of allusions
> to cannibalism which are inextricably intertwined with notions of
> incest.
A lot to think about here, especially Cat-skin *shudder*. I'm just
going to comment on a matter of fact.
[snip]
> a. Boyd sees this as a foreshadowing image of Hazel's
> transformation from Toothwort White into Red Admirable. (Btw, has anyone
> ever pointed out that Toothwort--the plant--specifically feeds on Hazel
> roots? I have not found this noted anywhere in Boyd or elsewhere).
That's a different Toothwort. The (larval) butterfly, being a
relative of the cabbage butterflies, must feed on plants of the
genus /Cardamine/, in the cabbage family, some of which are
called toothworts. Those plants are found around the world.
The parasitic toothworts, found only in temperate Eurasia, are
members of the genus /Lathraea/ in the broomrape (that word!)
family. Also, the Common Toothwort parasitize the alder as well
as the hazel. (Information from Wikipedia.)
Maybe some reference to the European-versus-American-names
theme, though.
By the way, thanks for the off-list correction that "unicursal
bicircular quartic" is in Webster's Second. What were they
thinking? But VN must have been delighted to find it.
Jerry Friedman
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
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