----- Original Message -----
From: alex
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 4:52 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: query for Alexey and others ADA

Dear Carolyn,
 
Nothing can be said against your p. s. But note that Ada and Van are unsuccessful in a different way than Marina was in her time. Ada's "pustotsvetnost'" (acarpous destiny) is of different kind than that of her mother who never was a Wunderkind. If Marina is simply a mediocre actress, it seems that "a jinx has been cast on Ada's career" as Demon says in a letter to Van (3.6). The professional failures of Van and Ada are predestined, I think, by the parodic nature of these characters. I mean, they must repeat the destiny of the Chekhovian characters (Treplev and Nina Zarechnaya in The Seagull, Uncle Vanya in the play of the same name, Irina in Three Sisters), of whom they are (at least, partly) parodies.
 
Alexey
 
----- Original Message -----
From: D. Barton Johnson
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2003 6:43 AM
Subject: Fw: query for Alexey and others ADA

 
----- Original Message -----
From: Carolyn Kunin
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 2:07 PM
Subject: query for Alexey and others

Dear Alexey,

I don't think we disagree, do we? I certainly agree that I have a lot of reading and re-reading to do.  But really, do you have no response to my p.s.?

Marina is not the only failed actress in Ada. Her daughter isn't very
successful either. And come to think of it, Van turns out to be something of
a mediocrity on the world stage as well.


Doesn't anyone find it -- well -- true but strange?

Carolyn