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Signs And Symbols (Stories Of Vladimir Nabokov) (2000)

by Vladimir Nabokov(Favorite Author)

3.92 of 5 Votes: 2

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English

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review 1: From the beginning of Nabokov story, it is a story of signs and symbols. The conflict is not just between the parents and their boy, but also between them and the world. They all live in reality, but at the same time they are separated mentally or physically. Their boy is a symbol of a severe illness, that makes him believe that every object in this world is conspiring against him. Which makes us feel, in a way, the emotional conflict of any jewish man who suffered from the Nazi army. considering that his parents where jewish, who struggle through the World War II. So, as his parents faces reality, he faces delusions that keeps him out of this world. All and all, humans are separated. Not only by mental illness, but by cultural, economical, and also by religion beliefs. Th... moreerefore, the last sign stands as a calling girl who tries to reach a boy named Charlie, but hopelessly with no success. Our separation is the real disease that makes us start wars or misunderstand each other, our separation is the root of every wickedness we hold.
review 2: This story really struck me for a variety of personal reasons. The story elaborates on the conflict of supporting and loving someone who is mentally ill and the lack of control that you often have to help them. You never really feel like you know what's best for your loved one and ultimately they are the only ones that can decide to improve or change. If they choose not to, then you are at a complete loss, which is the case for the unfortunate parents in this story. The old couple are trying to go and visit their son in a sanitarium for his birthday. They struggle with what to get him as his interests are in a world of signs and symbols that they regretfully do not understand. His son is detached from reality and the people that care about him. After having been told that they are not allowed to see their son as he attempted to take his own life, again, they return home downtrodden. The couple reflects on how the events of their son has aged them and completely altered their lives and relationship. In an effort to regain some control in their own lives and in their sons they decide that they are going to take him out of the sanitarium and bring him home. The story, then leaves the reader hanging about the fate of the son when the couple receives some wrong number phones calls and decide not to answer the last call thinking that it's the same person calling the wrong number. Powerful and tragic. less

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