Subject
links with Zenda & split personality
From
Date
Body
Dear Don,
I've seen the Boyd/Hornick pages, they interested me a lot.
I would add to the arguments of Neil Hornick
that
a) The relations of the king of Zembla with his
queen (in the story told by Kinbote) look as a logical development
of the relations of king Rudolf of Zenda with princess Flavia after
their marriage (what else can be expected if the king took place
of his distant relative who was loved by the princess; by the way,
there is nothing in "The prisoner of Zenda" that would contradict
the hypothesis of the king's homesexuality);
b) The story of shaving and growing a beard (by king and Rudolf
Rassendyll in Zenda story) is mirrored in the story told by
Kinbote - how he was almost recognized (as a king) by a German from
Oxford.
Concerning the discussion about split personality:
c) It is difficult to believe that (in case of split personality)
Shade could be writing the poem and at the same time some part
of his personality would be strongly influenced by a rather flat
romantic story of Zenda. (Much more flat that the JH story by RLS.)From
litterary point of view it would be very counter-productive to assume
(what for?) such cross influences in the main character.
d) Side remark: the birthday of Gradus is the same as of Shade,
if we believe Kinbote - but why should we?
e) Anoter side remark: Lukin (rather, Lukina for a woman) is a
very common russian surname, I have a friend who has it.
Best -
Sergei Soloviev
[Not a relative of various famous russians]
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
I've seen the Boyd/Hornick pages, they interested me a lot.
I would add to the arguments of Neil Hornick
that
a) The relations of the king of Zembla with his
queen (in the story told by Kinbote) look as a logical development
of the relations of king Rudolf of Zenda with princess Flavia after
their marriage (what else can be expected if the king took place
of his distant relative who was loved by the princess; by the way,
there is nothing in "The prisoner of Zenda" that would contradict
the hypothesis of the king's homesexuality);
b) The story of shaving and growing a beard (by king and Rudolf
Rassendyll in Zenda story) is mirrored in the story told by
Kinbote - how he was almost recognized (as a king) by a German from
Oxford.
Concerning the discussion about split personality:
c) It is difficult to believe that (in case of split personality)
Shade could be writing the poem and at the same time some part
of his personality would be strongly influenced by a rather flat
romantic story of Zenda. (Much more flat that the JH story by RLS.)From
litterary point of view it would be very counter-productive to assume
(what for?) such cross influences in the main character.
d) Side remark: the birthday of Gradus is the same as of Shade,
if we believe Kinbote - but why should we?
e) Anoter side remark: Lukin (rather, Lukina for a woman) is a
very common russian surname, I have a friend who has it.
Best -
Sergei Soloviev
[Not a relative of various famous russians]
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