Question about a phrase from "Lolita"

[i***@yahoo.com]

Hi,

I thought this might be a chance to reach Nabokov aficionados, so
here's my question: any opinions on the intended meaning of the final
phrase of chapter 9, part II of Nabokov's "Lolita"?

"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."

The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?

Thank you,
I.G.

[Francis A. Miniter]

Post by i***@yahoo.com
Hi,
I thought this might be a chance to reach Nabokov aficionados, so
here's my question: any opinions on the intended meaning of the final
phrase of chapter 9, part II of Nabokov's "Lolita"?
"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."
The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?
Thank you,
I.G.

Sounds like a sexual image to me.


Francis A. Miniter

[DylanBD]

Post by Francis A. Miniter
Sounds like a sexual image to me.

This reading, though it's certainly plausible, has to come up against
Nabokov's hostility to Freud and declared intention to thwart or embarrass
such readings of his books (I can't think of exactly where the quote is ...
anyone?). The vagina is there, but Nabokov is laughing at you for noticing
it.

The pattern of squares is more than chess too, I think. "Tessellation" is
one of Nabokov's favorite words--but he uses it to describe two different
worlds or systems of perception that interpenetrate without mingling, like
Russia and the U.S. in Ada's anti-Terra. I think Lolita is largely about
the degree to which Lolita's actual experience makes itself felt through but
in opposition to Humbert's presentation of it, so that fits.

The passage also suggests for me the many magic mirror/windows in Pale Fire.

[herothatdied]

Post by DylanBD

Post by Francis A. Miniter
Sounds like a sexual image to me.

This reading, though it's certainly plausible, has to come up against
Nabokov's hostility to Freud and declared intention to thwart or embarrass
such readings of his books (I can't think of exactly where the quote is ...
anyone?). The vagina is there, but Nabokov is laughing at you for noticing
it.
The pattern of squares is more than chess too, I think. "Tessellation" is
one of Nabokov's favorite words--but he uses it to describe two different
worlds or systems of perception that interpenetrate without mingling, like
Russia and the U.S. in Ada's anti-Terra. I think Lolita is largely about
the degree to which Lolita's actual experience makes itself felt through but
in opposition to Humbert's presentation of it, so that fits.
The passage also suggests for me the many magic mirror/windows in Pale Fire.

That's really good. It would explain why it's - and pardon for this image -
a vagina that doesn't go anywhere (a truly sterile metaphor, ba-dum-pum).
It's not a-cigar-is-just-a-cigar: the window is sexual, but sex is where the
representationality stops. Sometimes a vagina is just a vagina.

Eve Ensler, anyone?

htd

[Francis A. Miniter]

Very good.

Francis A. Miniter

Post by DylanBD

Post by Francis A. Miniter
Sounds like a sexual image to me.

This reading, though it's certainly plausible, has to come up against
Nabokov's hostility to Freud and declared intention to thwart or embarrass
such readings of his books (I can't think of exactly where the quote is ...
anyone?). The vagina is there, but Nabokov is laughing at you for noticing
it.
The pattern of squares is more than chess too, I think. "Tessellation" is
one of Nabokov's favorite words--but he uses it to describe two different
worlds or systems of perception that interpenetrate without mingling, like
Russia and the U.S. in Ada's anti-Terra. I think Lolita is largely about
the degree to which Lolita's actual experience makes itself felt through but
in opposition to Humbert's presentation of it, so that fits.
The passage also suggests for me the many magic mirror/windows in Pale Fire.

[i***@yahoo.com]

Yes, that fits indeed. I think close to what the author wished to be
read like - perhaps we should consider dropping the "I think" intro by
convention? Surely we are reasonable enough not to expect definitive
statements here. I must say however that DylanDB's interpretation seems
quite sound to me.

[Paul Ilechko]

Post by i***@yahoo.com
Hi,
I thought this might be a chance to reach Nabokov aficionados, so
here's my question: any opinions on the intended meaning of the final
phrase of chapter 9, part II of Nabokov's "Lolita"?
"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."
The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?
Thank you,
I.G.

What don't you understand ? You do know that "a knight's move" is a
chess reference, right ?

[Francis A. Miniter]

Post by Paul Ilechko

Post by i***@yahoo.com
Hi,
I thought this might be a chance to reach Nabokov aficionados, so
here's my question: any opinions on the intended meaning of the final
phrase of chapter 9, part II of Nabokov's "Lolita"?
"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."
The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?
Thank you,
I.G.

What don't you understand ? You do know that "a knight's move" is a
chess reference, right ?

Perhaps, as in two across and one down. (Sexual, again?) Or maybe the
knight's move he had in mind is one made with a thrusting sword.


Francis A. Miniter

[Gerry]

Post by Francis A. Miniter

Post by Paul Ilechko

Post by i***@yahoo.com
"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."
The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?

What don't you understand ? You do know that "a knight's move" is a
chess reference, right ?

Perhaps, as in two across and one down. (Sexual, again?) Or maybe the
knight's move he had in mind is one made with a thrusting sword.

I think "circuitous" or "clandestine angle" might be a related concept.

[herothatdied]

Post by Francis A. Miniter

Post by i***@yahoo.com
I thought this might be a chance to reach Nabokov aficionados, so
here's my question: any opinions on the intended meaning of the final
phrase of chapter 9, part II of Nabokov's "Lolita"?
"...One of the latticed squares in a small cobwebby casement window at
the turn of the staircase was glazed with ruby, and that raw wound
among the unstained rectangles and its asymmetrical position - a
knight's move from the top - always strangely disturbed me."
The fragment seems rather enigmatic to me. Perhaps some knowledgeable
person could shed light on this?

Perhaps, as in two across and one down. (Sexual, again?) Or maybe the
knight's move he had in mind is one made with a thrusting sword.

Stop it, you're getting me hot. ; )

It is sensual, and "raw wound" is certainly vaginal, and in a way that's
suggestive of a freshly broken hymen. I was going to go with the idea of
the sexually experienced nestled among the chaste. But the asymmetry of it
keeps me from concluding that it's directly metaphorical. My thought is
that it's just (just?) tonal - contributing to a feeling of uneasiness and
sensuality, with the difficulty of the passage helping to pass the sense of
uneasiness on to the reader. - htd

[i***@yahoo.com]

Yes, I know the "literal" meaning. Do you think this was just a
reference inspired by Nabokov's passion for chess? My impression was
that it carries some extra significance.

Thank you,
I.G.

[Sam Culotta]

Post by i***@yahoo.com
Yes, I know the "literal" meaning. Do you think this was just a
reference inspired by Nabokov's passion for chess? My impression was
that it carries some extra significance.
Thank you,
I.G.

OK.. let's try this.
The pane of glass is both wounded and out of pattern with the others, much
like the nymphet herself. The knight moves asymmetrically, differently than
all other chess pieces. A knight represents male power, he can pounce and
inflict pain.
Now, whether or not this had anything to do with Nabokov's choice of imagery
is anyone's guess.

Sam