Subject
VN and Freud (response to Jansy Mello on VN's awareness of
Oedipal complex)
Oedipal complex)
From
Date
Body
[Because of some problems forwarding posts at the beginning of July, Jo
Morgan's reply to Jansy Mello was delayed. Jo Morgan responds here to
Jansy's earlier post of June 30, in which she recollects having read
"somewhere ( and I quote from memory) Nabokov describe psychoanalysis as
a 'sexual police-state.' This leads me to suppose he was particularly
cognizant with Freud's seduction theory and not necessarily with what
became 'Psychoanalysis' after Freud moved on to 'Oedipal' matters." --
SES]
> Your memory has led you somewhat astray, Jansy, I'm afraid. Nabokov
> actually referred quite explicitly in his memoirs to the 'police state
> of
> sexual myth' (see Speak, Memory 1999, p. 235). This is an obvious
> reference
> by Nabokov to Freud's Oedipus complex theory, not his earlier child
> seduction theory. As I have pointed out, Freud's Oedipus complex
theory
> was
> effectively used/misused by psychoanalysts for many decades to deny
the
> reality of child sexual assault. The Oedipus complex further fortified
> Nabokov's sense of imprisonment. The secret of his incestuous
> abuse as a child by Uncle Ruka, combined with his utter disdain for
> Freud,
> explains why Nabokov derided the very idea of visiting a 'therapist'
> within
> Lolita as the virtual equivalent to meeting 'the rapist.'
>
> I do believe that Nabokov was also quite interested in Freud's
> earlier child 'seduction' theory. He was probably having an irreverent
> crack at Freud's terminology (as well as the language of crime
statutes
> of
> his era) when he allowed Humbert Humbert to make the
> outrageous claim that he had been 'seduced' at the
> Enchanted Hunter's Hotel.
>
> Jo Morgan
> Sydney
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Morgan's reply to Jansy Mello was delayed. Jo Morgan responds here to
Jansy's earlier post of June 30, in which she recollects having read
"somewhere ( and I quote from memory) Nabokov describe psychoanalysis as
a 'sexual police-state.' This leads me to suppose he was particularly
cognizant with Freud's seduction theory and not necessarily with what
became 'Psychoanalysis' after Freud moved on to 'Oedipal' matters." --
SES]
> Your memory has led you somewhat astray, Jansy, I'm afraid. Nabokov
> actually referred quite explicitly in his memoirs to the 'police state
> of
> sexual myth' (see Speak, Memory 1999, p. 235). This is an obvious
> reference
> by Nabokov to Freud's Oedipus complex theory, not his earlier child
> seduction theory. As I have pointed out, Freud's Oedipus complex
theory
> was
> effectively used/misused by psychoanalysts for many decades to deny
the
> reality of child sexual assault. The Oedipus complex further fortified
> Nabokov's sense of imprisonment. The secret of his incestuous
> abuse as a child by Uncle Ruka, combined with his utter disdain for
> Freud,
> explains why Nabokov derided the very idea of visiting a 'therapist'
> within
> Lolita as the virtual equivalent to meeting 'the rapist.'
>
> I do believe that Nabokov was also quite interested in Freud's
> earlier child 'seduction' theory. He was probably having an irreverent
> crack at Freud's terminology (as well as the language of crime
statutes
> of
> his era) when he allowed Humbert Humbert to make the
> outrageous claim that he had been 'seduced' at the
> Enchanted Hunter's Hotel.
>
> Jo Morgan
> Sydney
Search the archive: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/archives/nabokv-l.html
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu,chtodel@cox.net
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm