As it always seems to be with Nabokov, he never figured puzzles had edges. Everytime I open Pale Fire in search of Our Professor Blue or the dead friend, I end up with pieces that connect but have yet to make any picture. Also, they seem to trail off into a giant X with no fill in between, and the tails find no need in staying linear, no, they loop and lean, sag, and soar, and I've yet to find them taught, with a clear point. Oh The Monarch's Way!
But to the point; Did anyone realize that Kinbote is envisioning the escape of Chalres II of England? Sexson has told us this, right? he wouldn't leave something like that out would he? did he? he did, didn't he?
BOSCOBEL!
In Kinbote's Commentary on page 232, he says these words;
How much happier the wide-awake indolents, the monarchs among men, the rich monstours brains deriving intense enjoyment and rapturous pangs from the balustrade of a terrace at nihgtfall, from the lights and the lake below, from the distant mountain shapes melting ino the dark apricot of the afterglow, from the black conifers outlined against the pale ink of the zenith, and from the garnet and green flounces of the water along the silent, sad forbidden shoreline. Oh my sweet Boscobel! And the tender and terrible memories and the same, and the glory, and the maddening intimations, and the star that no party member can ever reach.
Boscobel, a small civil parish in the east of Shropshire, England has an oak tree, A Royal Oak Tree in which Chalres II hid after loosing the batlle of Worcester in 1651.
Do some easy reading and catch up Wiki Charles II Escape.
If, and when you do read this, I have a favor to ask of you (I am on my own little journey of thought here, so I'll not be doing it at the moment); Find the corelating remarks by Kinbote with a person during his escape to that of Charles II while he is having his "masters" horse reshoed. (HINT: BOSCOBEL TO BENTLY)
Comparable to John Dillinger walking into the cop station and asking the score eh?
CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
Where do you think Charles II Ended up fleeing to?....Kinbote?
And if you're one of those naysayers, look onto the next page, Verse 597-608.
Towards the bottom of the page;
"(I am thinking of yet another Charles, another long dark man above two yards high)."
Since I have not made it clear, Charles II was 6'2 during an age when most men stood below 5'10.
Monday, November 2, 2009
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great discovery. I've been wondering about "Boscobel"; (i believe I had it circled with a question mark =). Loved the revelation.
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