-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Jansy and Nabokov's dreams
Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2007 20:01:33 +0000
From: Stan Kelly-Bootle <skb@bootle.biz>
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Somewhere in Strong Opinions, I recall, VN reveals that his research into
Dreams was motivated, inter alia, by a desire to dispute the sex-centric
dream-theories of the Viennese 'witch doctor.' Frankly, I find the detailed,
earnest narration of most folks' dreams the ultimate narcissistic YAWN,
being beyond verification or useful (this includes 'entertaining') analysis.
An obvious exception would be when VN describes his 'real' dreams with his
uniquely gifted narrative skills -- these, as Jansy and Stephen Brook
indicate, we can read with the same pleasure we derive from the 'invented'
dreams of his novels & poetry.

A childhood quip (Spike Milligan?) added to my life-long distrust of dreamy
interpretations:

"Last night I dreamt I was being chased by a tiger, and only today I lost my
fountain pen."

The TIMES (of London) reports a Œshock-horror' Freudian scandal. Proof of
the rumours (spread by Jung and others) that Herr Doktor was indeed shagging
his sister-in-law. Two-timing Siggy tells a rather dumb lie, signing in
(single room?) as Doktor and MRS Freud on a recently-uncovered Swiss Hotel
register! Why not use Mr/Mrs Schmidt in the time-honoured motel-adulterer's
tradition?? The author of Lolita would have enjoyed the incident. Did Siggy
agonize over how to register his illicit paramour? See p. 122 -- HH's
telegram -- was he Humbert, Homberg, Hamberg -- was he with his daughter or
'immature girl' etc?

Stan Kelly-Bootle

>> mixed with day-dreams, reminiscences and hallucinations, as we find
>> in ADA...
>>

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