The Formation Of Hermann’s Dictatorship In Nabokov’s Despair

The paper explores in detail both formation and fiasco of Hermann’s dictatorship in two separate yet interconnected realms—the realm of everyday life and the realm of verbal narration in Vladimir Nabokov’s sixth Russian novel Despair (1967). By interpreting Hermann’s role as both a failed chocolate manufacturer and a cuckolded husband, it argues, that Hermann’s desperate need to manipulate others derives from his unsettling degree of both self-obsession and self-loath, which result in his merciless projection on his double Felix.It is the prevailing interpretation of Despair among Nabokov critics that the novel contains least social message. Such interpretation will be systematically deconstructed in this paper. After thorough analysis, the paper arrives at a conclusion that in essence, Hermann is the sheer representation of the technological rationality in the advanced industrial society, manifested by his emphasis on quantity rather than quality, efficiency rather than effort, and his repressive control on others through manipulating their needs as well as his merciless killing of Felix. The paper also delves into Felix’s role as a one-dimensional man deprived of both economic and intellectual freedom as well as individual autonomy. It is beyond doubt that Despair contains more social messages than any other Nabokov’s novels.The thesis consists of five chapters. First and foremost, Chapter one offers a thorough delineation of Despair’s writing background, literature review and the nuances between Nabokov’s different versions of Despair. Chapter2delves into the inner world of Hermann to explore the source of his manipulation on others. Based on the previous Chapter, Chapter3first examines the false homogeneity between Hermann and Felix, then reveals Hermann’s dream of an extreme homogeneous world, last arrives at a conclusion that Hermann builds a homogeneous world to better impose his total dictatorship on others. Chapter4seeks to reveal Hermann’s fiasco in his attempt to exert absolute dictatorship in both realms. To sum up, in real life, while controlling others, Hermann is simultaneously putting himself into an uncontrolled status. Whereas in his verbal narration, the title of his manuscript----Despair is more than enough to testify Hermann’s doomed failure and sheer desperation.