Misfortune and Motifs in Vladimir Nabokov's Signs and Symbols - Essay Sample

Introduction

The research will be based on the story, Signs, and Symbols, by Vladimir Nabokov, whereby it provides an insight regarding the creative imagination in the text. In particular, the research will discuss how Nabokov demonstrates the theme of misfortune and motifs. Nabokov illustrates, “That Friday everything went wrong. The underground train lost its life current between two stations, and for a quarter of an hour, one could hear nothing but the dutiful beating of one's heart…” (Nabokov 1). Before the event, the couple was expecting to meet the son, but instead, they meet a nurse (Nabokov 3). Additionally, the research will examine how symbols such as the bird and public transport demonstrate the conceptual approach revolving around the theme of misfortune. Due to the condition, the woman crushes the world tenderness as she tries to understand the prevailing issues affecting the family (Toker 183). Furthermore, the research will review how the story brings a metafictional perception, which entraps the audiences to over-interpret the information Nabokov has used in work (Toker 184). In regards, the research will reviews how the author uses symbols in writing and how they impact the description of the story.

Research Question

Throughout the story, Nabokov illustrates different incidents of bad luck. Most of the characters in the story encounter issues as they try to explore the world. As such, how does the theme of misfortune in the book affects the plotting and characters?

Paragraph 1

As a way of celebrating son’s birthday, parents decide to visit the son in a mental health care center using public transport (Biblioklept 2). During the way, the train fails, affecting their movement, and hence, the couple appears stranded as they lack an alternative. The couple appears to be psychologically affected after learning their son wanted to commit suicide.

The author says, “The underground train lost its life current between two stations, and for a quarter of an hour, one could hear nothing but the dutiful beating…” (Nabokov 1).

Paragraph 2

The relationship between the mother and son appears to have misfortune since both are seen structuring to counter psychological hardship (Priscilla 183). The mother is also striving to maintain her relationship with her husband.

Nabokov says, “When he had gone to bed, she remained in the living room with her pack of soiled cards and her old albums” (Nabokov 2).

Paragraph 3

Historically, the family has been experiencing issues regarding the birthday celebration of the young boy. The author impact readers to develop a sense of familiarity on a character role in the text, especially when he introduces the text using the historical aspect of the family (Nabokov 1).

The author says, “For the fourth time in as many years, they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present to take to a young man who was incurably deranged in his mind” (Nabokov 1).

Paragraph 4

The author uses an omniscient narrator in the plotting of the story, which is an essential approach when developing themes and characters. In particular, the author demonstrates how the boy’s mother behaves in a different manner as she tries to cope with the hardship (Biblioklept 3). The mother encounters a lot of mental thinking, which makes her appear upsets.

The author says, “Whom did that woman resemble? She resembled Rebecca Borisovna" (Nabokov 2)

Works Cited

Biblioklept. “”Symbols and Signs,” a Story by Vladimir Nabokov. (2017). https://biblioklept.org/2017/06/09/symbols-and-signs-a-story-by-vladimir-nabokov/. Accessed on 26 May 2020.

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Signs and Symbols." The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov (1995): 598-603.

Nabokov, Vladimir. "Symbols and Signs." The New Yorker 15 (1948).

Toker, Leona. "Nabokov and Indeterminacy: The Case of the Real Life of Sebastian Knight by Priscilla Meyer." Partial Answers: Journal of Literature and the History of Ideas 18.1 (2020): 182-185.