Re
Jansy’s query on “A Nursery Tale” female devil:
a
detailed explanation is given by Irena & Omri Ronen in “Nabokov’s
Devils” -- I have a Russian version in Zvezda 2006, 4 online:
http://magazines.russ.ru/zvezda/2006/4/ro10.html
They note that:
(a) “Monde” [Fr. World]
= an anagram of “demon”;
(b) there also is a Frau Welt from
old German allegories, a female embodiment of world’s temptations and the
Devil himself;
(c) in the Russian version, Frau Monde is Gozpozha
Ott; Ott = Gott - G
I would also
add that obviously the Devil is “"the
prince of this world".
Victor
Fet
From: Vladimir Nabokov
Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of jansymello
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 10:48 AM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Vladimir as a name
Dear Victor,
I agree with
you qua Mary's query: one shouldn't "mention those two V.V.’s in the same message lightly
on this esteemed Forum"
My question
concerning "Vladimir" was, at first glance, only a tease ( Sigmund and Vladimir), but actually I had
been wondering about a second "nabor" ( recruiting?) agent, as
found in "A Nursery Tale", when a feminine version of
the devil intervenes and spoils Erwin's harem ( two phantastic recruiters,
indeed!). Whad could have been VN's purpose when he chose to call
this demonic character, " Frau Monde"?
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