You have ignored the quote I gave you from "Strong Opinions" of VN on Kinbote's suicide.

Oh, sorry. I have in other posts said that I believe Kinbote commits suicide after he finishes the foreword. I'm afraid I must have missed your point. If it's important please send the quote again - - I'm afraid things are getting lost in the flurry.

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

 

It just sounds bizarre for VN to talk about Shade's rich inner existence, on the one hand, and Kinbote's suicide on the other, as if Kinbote's suicide was not also Shade's, on your hypothesis. Why would VN talk, in his interviews, as if Shade and Kinbote were separate persons if in fact he intended them to be different aspects of the same person? Why would he explicitly tell his son of his low opinion of theories that Shade and Kinbote are the same person if he intended them to be a Jekyll-and-Hyde combination? This is my simple point.

 

I do agree with you that there are very many unexplained connections between Shade and Kinbote that need explaining. I also agree with you about the moving quality of Kinbote's relation to Disa, especially his dream. You are right that there is tragedy, not just a joke there.

 

Best wishes,

 

Anthony