Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0007069, Mon, 11 Nov 2002 15:29:42 -0800

Subject
Fw: Fw: Sidenote Hazel & pity
Date
Body
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jennifer Parsons" <jdparsons@shaw.ca>
To: "Vladimir Nabokov Forum" <nabokv-l@listserv.ucsb.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Sidenote Hazel & pity
>
> ----------------- Message requiring your approval (49
lines) ------------------
> While I don't doubt the findings of the study - I'm thinking about human
> tendency to cry when pity and consolation are offered (witness Barbara
> Walters' interviews), I don't think that that's what VN intended for us
> to think regarding Hazel's feelings about her parents' attitude towards
> her. Do we even have many instances of Hazel and parents speaking
> directly to one another, beyond Kinbote's guess at the 'third night'
> scene in haunted barn and Shade's description of her questions shot at
> them in the evenings? We know that the Shades spoke to each other about
> Hazel. I tend to think they made some effort to not show these concerns
> and feelings to sensitive Hazel. I don't think Hazel even knew of her
> father's sobbing in the Men's Room, for example. Her parents and home
> were her one zone of love and security - but not enough, given her
> 'faint hope' for love and a normal life beyond this nest.
>
> Interesting that both Lolita (at least until the end) and Hazel are not
> seen and valued by those they crave respect and affection from, for who
> they really are, for their souls, so to speak, on account of their very
> different appearances. I can't help but think of the plump but secure
> and loved classmate friend of Lolita's, perched on adoring father's knee
> - the one who makes Lolita's expression freeze - and think perhaps this
> girl is Hazel in nascent form before parents' love becomes not quite
> enough.
>
> "D. Barton Johnson" wrote:
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mac Reynolds" <reynoldsm001@hawaii.rr.com>
> > To: "Vladimir Nabokov Forum" <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
> > Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 1:27 AM
> > Subject: Sidenote
> >
> > > This message was originally submitted by
reynoldsm001@HAWAII.RR.COM to
> > the
> > > NABOKV-L list at LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU.>
> > > ----------------- Message requiring your approval (13
> > lines) ------------------
> > > it's possible that Hazel is the one
> > > tormented by the
> > > > demons of her parents' pity.
> > >
> > > I just read about a rather interesting study done recently on chronic
> > > pain sufferers. The experts found that the pain of the sufferers got
> > > worse when a sympathetic spouse was in the room with them.
> > >
> > > Ms Kunin might have a valid point here about Hazel and her parents'
> > > pity.
> > >
> > > Mac
> > >