Subject
Re: : Pale Fire & homophobia (fwd)
Date
Body
EDITOR's NOTE. This is a corrected version of Chris Berg's earlier posting
that somehow was truncated. Here is the full text. With apologies to Chris
Berg.
---------------------------
From: TENTENDER@aol.com
***********************************
> Oleg Dorman mentions that one might consider "Pale Fire"
> medievally antivegetarian.
Perhaps you are amazed, Oleg, but those who wish to tar those of us who
are taking a defensive position as regards homosexuals might take notice that
the issue here (and let us try to stay focused on it, please) is that
homosexuals have been oppressed and that many of the oppressors have used
stereotypical portrayals of homosexuals as tools of oppression.
Further, may I note that Humbert's pedophilia -- criminal in that it
abuses the trust of a weaker being -- and Kinbote's homosexuality, which is the
basis of an activity between consenting adults -- are, morally, not
equatable.
(Van and Ada's incest, I would suggest, falls between these two moral
poles - - being, as it is, illegal and dangerous but also consensual).
I question no one's right to read, ponder and enjoy "Pale Fire," but
see, as well, no reason not to question its author's ethics. I must grant,
as well, that there are aspects of this discussion that may be a good deal
more subtle than any of us has yet quite grasped. At the moment (to make
myself clear), I am railing more against thoughtless list members'
attitudes than Nabokov's.
The question now being, it seems to me, if VN was aware that there was
such a thing as irrational prejudice against homosexuals (as, considering how
his brother Sergei died, he must have been), why does he create a Kinbote who
seems -- among many other things -- to be supportive of such a prejudice?
And that is indeed an interesting question.
(Re: the homosexual couple in "Mary" -- there seems to be little if any
negativity in this portrayal -- but perhaps my memory is failing me.)
Christopher Berg
Tentender@aol.com
that somehow was truncated. Here is the full text. With apologies to Chris
Berg.
---------------------------
From: TENTENDER@aol.com
***********************************
> Oleg Dorman mentions that one might consider "Pale Fire"
> medievally antivegetarian.
Perhaps you are amazed, Oleg, but those who wish to tar those of us who
are taking a defensive position as regards homosexuals might take notice that
the issue here (and let us try to stay focused on it, please) is that
homosexuals have been oppressed and that many of the oppressors have used
stereotypical portrayals of homosexuals as tools of oppression.
Further, may I note that Humbert's pedophilia -- criminal in that it
abuses the trust of a weaker being -- and Kinbote's homosexuality, which is the
basis of an activity between consenting adults -- are, morally, not
equatable.
(Van and Ada's incest, I would suggest, falls between these two moral
poles - - being, as it is, illegal and dangerous but also consensual).
I question no one's right to read, ponder and enjoy "Pale Fire," but
see, as well, no reason not to question its author's ethics. I must grant,
as well, that there are aspects of this discussion that may be a good deal
more subtle than any of us has yet quite grasped. At the moment (to make
myself clear), I am railing more against thoughtless list members'
attitudes than Nabokov's.
The question now being, it seems to me, if VN was aware that there was
such a thing as irrational prejudice against homosexuals (as, considering how
his brother Sergei died, he must have been), why does he create a Kinbote who
seems -- among many other things -- to be supportive of such a prejudice?
And that is indeed an interesting question.
(Re: the homosexual couple in "Mary" -- there seems to be little if any
negativity in this portrayal -- but perhaps my memory is failing me.)
Christopher Berg
Tentender@aol.com