Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010063, Wed, 14 Jul 2004 19:34:45 -0700

Subject
Re: TT-4 (fwd) wordplay caTARact.
Date
Body
------------------

In the novel Despair, on page 46 (perhaps speaking on behalf of
the author?) says:

I liked, as I like still to make words look self-conscious
and foolish, to bind them by the mock marriage of a pun, to
turn them inside out, to come upon them unawares. What
is this jest in majesty? This ass in passion. How do God and
Devil combine to make a live dog?

This may bring back to mind the Hotel Majestic of Chapter 2, but
also throws a shimmering light on:

A local miracle of nature, the Tara caTARAct, was
painted on the watercloset door.

(poster's capitalization hopefully for clarity). This may relieve
us of seeking an actual cataract of that name in TT (I haven't
found one), or trying to find a connection with Margaret Mitchell
or Thomas Moore (Byron's friend)

John
EDNOTE. Part of the water motif, in this case the "flushing" submotif, heh,
heh.






---------- End Forwarded Message ----------



D. Barton Johnson
NABOKV-L