Subject
Re: QUERY: Lolita: [C]harlotte's "maroon slacks,
yellow silk blouse"
yellow silk blouse"
From
Date
Body
The symmetry always struck me as odd, as that mirroring (returning to the beginning to signify an end) is a rudimentary writing technique that plays on the brain's natural pattern-seeking tendencies. It's taught in entry-level writing classes, and is more commonly found in short fiction and film. (Christopher Nolan uses the technique ad nauseam.) True that the mirror usually happens at the end of the narrative and Nabokov turns is on its side by employing it during what is effectively the end of Act 1, but it's vexing at how obvious it is, as it's unlike Nabokov to show us his hand. I believe that it's Nabokov's way of sounding the alarm and alerting the reader to be extra mindful of how Humbert describes the ensuing events, especially concerning Charlotte's death. Remember, you can always count on a murderer for a fancy prose style. Or in this case, a too-clever-by-half one.
As for the specific yellow & maroon color selections: My kingdom for a Nabokov synesthesia alphabet.
Sadie Powers
> On Dec 23, 2015, at 1:56 PM, "Hyman, Eric" <ehyman@UNCFSU.EDU> wrote:
>
> It might be simple formal symmetry (beginning=end). Or the same clothes are parentheses to her life (that is, her life with HH). And let us always recall that HH is a not-quite reliable narrator, who has a habit of imposing his own patternings on the females he encounters.
>
> Eric Hyman
> Professor of English
> Department of English
> Butler 133
> Fayetteville State University
> 1200 Murchison Road
> Fayetteville, NC 28301-4252
> (910) 672-1901
> ehyman@uncfsu.edu
>
> From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of Sadie Powers
> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 9:28 PM
> To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] QUERY: Lolita: harlotte's "maroon slacks, yellow silk blouse"
>
> My take on the maroon pants is it being a pun, as Humbert has basically marooned Charlotte below the waist in a loveless marriage.
>
>
>
> On Dec 22, 2015, at 9:09 PM, "NABOKV-L, English" <nabokv-l@HOLYCROSS.EDU> wrote:
>
> My first response is that those colors are a garish combination, suggesting again Charlotte's vulgarity.
>
> SES
>
> .
>
> Didier Machu: “...I have a query regarding Lolita. On that fateful day when Charlotte is killed, .Humbert remarks that she is wearing "the yellow blouse and maroon slacks she had on when [he] first met her." Indeed "maroon slacks, yellow silk blouse" appear to him in that order when she comes down the stairs to greet her lodger-to-be. Why is she dressed identically on the first and last days of their shared life? Why is she made to wear those particular colors? I have been considering several explanations (none of which quite satisfies me) and would like to hear you all on the matter. Thanks.”
>
>
> --
> Susan Elizabeth Sweeney
> Co-Editor, NABOKV-L
>
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As for the specific yellow & maroon color selections: My kingdom for a Nabokov synesthesia alphabet.
Sadie Powers
> On Dec 23, 2015, at 1:56 PM, "Hyman, Eric" <ehyman@UNCFSU.EDU> wrote:
>
> It might be simple formal symmetry (beginning=end). Or the same clothes are parentheses to her life (that is, her life with HH). And let us always recall that HH is a not-quite reliable narrator, who has a habit of imposing his own patternings on the females he encounters.
>
> Eric Hyman
> Professor of English
> Department of English
> Butler 133
> Fayetteville State University
> 1200 Murchison Road
> Fayetteville, NC 28301-4252
> (910) 672-1901
> ehyman@uncfsu.edu
>
> From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of Sadie Powers
> Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2015 9:28 PM
> To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
> Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] QUERY: Lolita: harlotte's "maroon slacks, yellow silk blouse"
>
> My take on the maroon pants is it being a pun, as Humbert has basically marooned Charlotte below the waist in a loveless marriage.
>
>
>
> On Dec 22, 2015, at 9:09 PM, "NABOKV-L, English" <nabokv-l@HOLYCROSS.EDU> wrote:
>
> My first response is that those colors are a garish combination, suggesting again Charlotte's vulgarity.
>
> SES
>
> .
>
> Didier Machu: “...I have a query regarding Lolita. On that fateful day when Charlotte is killed, .Humbert remarks that she is wearing "the yellow blouse and maroon slacks she had on when [he] first met her." Indeed "maroon slacks, yellow silk blouse" appear to him in that order when she comes down the stairs to greet her lodger-to-be. Why is she dressed identically on the first and last days of their shared life? Why is she made to wear those particular colors? I have been considering several explanations (none of which quite satisfies me) and would like to hear you all on the matter. Thanks.”
>
>
> --
> Susan Elizabeth Sweeney
> Co-Editor, NABOKV-L
>
> Google Search
> the archive
> Contact
> the Editors
> NOJ
> Zembla
> Nabokv-L
> Policies
> Subscription options
> AdaOnline
> NSJ Ada Annotations
> L-Soft Search the archive
> VN Bibliography Blog
> All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
> Google Search
> the archive
> Contact
> the Editors
> NOJ
> Zembla
> Nabokv-L
> Policies
> Subscription options
> AdaOnline
> NSJ Ada Annotations
> L-Soft Search the archive
> VN Bibliography Blog
> All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
> Google Search
> the archive Contact
> the Editors NOJ Zembla Nabokv-L
> Policies Subscription options AdaOnline NSJ Ada Annotations L-Soft Search the archive VN Bibliography Blog
> All private editorial communications are read by both co-editors.
Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en
Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com
AdaOnline: "http://www.ada.auckland.ac.nz/
The Nabokov Society of Japan's Annotations to Ada: http://vnjapan.org/main/ada/index.html
The VN Bibliography Blog: http://vnbiblio.com/
Search the archive with L-Soft: https://listserv.ucsb.edu/lsv-cgi-bin/wa?A0=NABOKV-L
Manage subscription options :http://listserv.ucsb.edu/lsv-cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=NABOKV-L