Respect For Individual Liberties

Vladimir Nabokov is one of the most important writers in the 20th century, who has made a substantial contribution to both Russian literature and English literature. Pale Fire is an outstanding work written by Nabokov. This novel contains the Poem named"Pale Fire"as well as the Foreword, the Commentary, and the Index written by a neighbor of the poet.As there are two"authors"in one novel, there are two inconsonant minds represented before the readers. The poet makes verses following his private feelings; the commentator explains it according to his own interests. This novel thoroughly reserves the heroes'struggles for expressing their own ideas freely. It manifests that, despite the interference from the others, individuals work hard in pursuit of liberties. Nabokov exhibited his respect for individual liberties in Pale Fire prominently.This paper which probes into the humanistic spirit in Pale Fire could be divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, humanism, individual liberties and the liberal spirit in Pale Fire would be introduced. In the second and third chapters, I would analyze the humanistic spirit in Pale Fire from two aspects: liberal fabrication of reality and liberal choice of death. Nabokov's view toward liberal fabrication of reality is revealed by the ways of constructing reality adopted by Shade, Kinbote and readers. Furthermore, Nabokov's view toward liberal choice of death is revealed by Hazel Shade's suicide and Jakob Gradus's assassination. In the last chapter, I would discuss Nabokov's opinions about individual liberties and the origin of Nabokov's liberalism.Based on my analysis, Nabokov expressed his views about individual liberty that individual has every right to enjoy his liberty which would not interfere with the others'liberty. In brief, this paper researches the humanistic spirit in Pale Fire.