Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010815, Thu, 16 Dec 2004 08:10:05 -0800

Subject
Re: Fwd: RE: Re: Re: Query: wordplay in Russian
Date
Body
Dear Brian Boyd

Could the play with the ending letters of "Patagonia"
be associated to Adelia´s (Ada´s ) name? But then the "Yes", the "Da" would
disappear...
Jansy


----- Original Message -----
From: "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu>
To: <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 2:51 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE: Re: Re: Query: wordplay in Russian


> Dear All,
>
> "The end of my name and wit" because she has just played with the ending
of
> the name Patagonia, as Verne does in Les Enfants du Capitaine Grant ("I
> could be instantly saved by you. Take the fastest flying machine you can
> rent straight to El Paso, your Ada will be waiting for you there, waving
> like mad, and we'll continue, by the New World Express, in a suite I'll
> obtain, to the burning tip of Patagonia, Captain Grant's Horn, a Villa in
> Verna, my jewel, my agony. Send me an aerogram with one Russian word--the
> end of my name and wit"), but she is at her wit's end, because she hardly
> expects her forced wit in the letter to move Van to reply "Da." Her wit,
> therefore, is exhausted.
>
> Alexey, what would make anyone else "interpret it that way"--that Demon
and
> Ada have been lovers? Don, what are these "hints"? ADA is not reticent
about
> sex, incest, or infidelity, so there would have to be much stronger clues
> than that Demonia's first and last letters spell Ad, or whatever is
supposed
> to constitute the clue.
>
> Brian Boyd
> ---------------------------------------------
> EDNOTE. Brian, I said "Somewhat Dissuaded." The particular hint I had in
mind
> was Demon's "too far" farewell kiss after the family dinner at the end of
I-38.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Donald B. Johnson [mailto:chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 7:05 PM
> To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> Subject: Fwd: Re: Re: Query: wordplay in Russian
>
> Dear Tomasz,
>
> One Russian word - "the end of Ada's name and wit" - is certainly "da"
> (yes). Note that "da" also occurs in Ada's second letter where a sentence
> consists of that single word:
>
> "He [Demon] and I have gamed at Nevada, my rhyme-name town, but you are
also
> there, as well as the legendary river of Old Rus. Da. Oh, write me, one
tiny
> note, I'm trying so hard to please you!"
>
> Note that "Nevada" is a town, not a State, on Antiterra. But Antiterra's
> other name is DEMONIA. I think that Ada's "da" links Demon, the father of
> Van and Ada, to the planet name Demonia. Note that, while the end of Ada's
> name is "da," its beginning is "ad" (hell). So, Demonia = Hell.
> By saying that "da" is also "the end of her wit," Ada seems to confirm
> unWITtingly that she not just "enjoyed going places" with Demon at Nevada,
> but that he was her lover. At least, I interpret it that way.
> Alexey
> ---------------------------------------------
> EDNOTE. I too have toyed with the idea that Demon is among Ada's lovers.
> There are hints. I am somewhat dissuaded by Demon's apparently sincere
> distress on discovering Van and Ada's affair. Or is he just jealous?
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donald B. Johnson" <chtodel@gss.ucsb.edu>
> To: <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 11:17 PM
> Subject: Re: Query: wordplay in Russian
>
>
> > Quoting "[Tomasz Cyba]" <tcyba@PRAST.PL>:
> >
> > > ----------------- Message requiring your approval (15 lines)
> > > ------------------
> > > In the first chapter of Part II of ADA, Van presents Ada's letters.
> > > The fourth one ends with a wordplay, which proved unsolvable for me.
> > >
> > > After making a suggestion for Van (she wants him to join her in El
> Paso),
> > > Ada says: 'Send me an aerogram with one Russian word - the end of my
> name
> > > and wit.'
> > >
> > > What is that 'one Russian word'?
> > > Is it simply 'da'?
> > > Then why 'wit'?
> > >
> > > Would somebody help me in my struggle with it?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Tomasz
> > -----------------------------------------------
> > EDNOTE. My guess is that the wordplay involves both the DA of Ada and
> > the
> set
> > phrase "at my wits end." both something esle might be involved.
> > Do note, however the play on"burning tip" and the ""agonia" of
> "PatAGONia."
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
> ----- End forwarded message -----
>
>

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