NPPF: Keith's Shocking Theory (was Preliminary: The Epigraph)

[Paul Mackin]

On Wed, 2003-07-16 at 11:10, Jasper Fidget wrote:

> > 
> > Fleur must be hurt or at least discouraged by her lack of success in
> > seducing young Charles. And Disa who's truly got it bad for her husband
> > suffers greatly from his rebuffs. Females suffer in predominantly
> > homosexual Zembla at least in some part like Hazel suffers in New Wye..
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> Good point, and I would add Garh the farmer's daughter.  If Zembla is K's
> invention it's almost as if he *wants* women to suffer there, or at least
> for their desires to be thwarted (mainly by Charles himself).  I wonder to
> what extent Zembla is therefore a *negation* of the New Wye world K finds
> himself in.  (And what happens when matter and anti-matter meet?)


Yes, it seems to be that Charles's (Kinbote's) lack of sexual interest
in females may not be as important in defining his character as his
manifest desire to cause them to suffer. He invariably makes some
disparaging remark about those he has "turned down" or merely
encountered (such as Sybil). 

Browning's "My Last Duchess" is alluded to several places. In the poem
and in the commentary. 

P.