jansymello:
"Why were these somehow extraordinary man-made basket, jars and jellies acceptable as gifts?"

Staying with the first paragraph, the parents hoped they were acceptable because they were not gadgets and they were (they thought) dainty, innocent, and a trifle, and not taboo. It was their guess. Nothing is going to be acceptable to him (he's incurable) and everything will frighten him (including his parents apparently). They find this unacceptable and keep trying, they don't want to think of themselves as giving up on him, but trying the wrong things. The solution to his problem isn't going to be an object, a gift. But the parents think THAT is their problem: "they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present to bring." His problem, their problem. Perhaps they should have tried an "abstract" solution. But they didn't know this. Perhaps they should have tried signs and symbols, his language.

Barrie Karp

All private editorial communications, without exception, are read by both co-editors.

Visit Zembla

View Nabokv-L Policies