Discussion - Week One - Invitation to a Beheading - Chapter 1 - 9

[Jim]

This discussion covers Chapter One thru Nine, p. 11 – 107

Cincinattus C. is convicted and sentenced to death for "gnostic turpitude". He returns to his cell and ponders his past. His lawyer, the gaoler, the director, and various others create a strange atmosphere of everything’s alright, it’s just a beheading. He wants to know the crucial bit of information that any condemned man would want – “When is my execution to be?” but no one will show him pity and give him the answer.

Lots going on in this story. What’s really happening? What is he dreaming? Imagining? Hallucinating?

And what’s up with little Emmie??


To avoid spoilers, please limit your comments to p. 11 – 107.

[Mikki]

Hi Jim, I've just received my copy and will begin reading today.

[Larou]

No novel by Nabokov (who is one of my favourite authors) is without hidden depths, but Invitation to a Beheading is one of the rarer case where the weirdness is out on the surface.

To my feeling, there is something distinctly dream-like about this novel, as shown in things like the door to Cincinnatus' apartment leading back into his prison cell, or the director suddenly being switched for Rodion and back again without anyone as much as remarking on it - it goes against all our experience of reality but at the same time has a strangely compelling logic to it, even though it always seems to just elude the grasp of your reason.

With that in mind, one probably should avoid trying to read any consistent allegory into the text - even though it is very, very tempting - so tempting in fact, as to be irresistible. For my part, I noticed that the arts seem to play a big part in the novel - in the first few pages alone, there is mention of literature (pencil and paper), music (the dance with Rodion) and visual arts (comparison of light to pigmentation on a painting). So while agree with Tom that it's about society vs. individual I'd also think it's a bit more specific, namely artist vs. philistines. Which would explain the ongoing references to art throughout the novel, as well as some developments later on.

One thing that is certain about Invitation to a Beheading, however, is that Nabokov is having fun playing around with clichés of the prison novel here (like the spider, the mysterious sounds and the fake escape), and it's in that context that I was mainly seeing Emmie - because every prison direction has to have a daughter, who is usually innocent and helps the hero - although I have a hunch things with Emmie might not turn out quite that way...

[Tracy]

Larou wrote: "No novel by Nabokov (who is one of my favourite authors) is without hidden depths, but Invitation to a Beheading is one of the rarer case where the weirdness is out on the surface.

To my feeling, ..."

I am sorry to say I will not have time to read this one, but I think you must be on the right track, because I read that Nabakov was rather disdainful of allegorical (and in particular political allegorical) writings.

I'm putting my prep time into rereading Lolita to try to understand why its considered such a modern masterpiece rather than what it seems to be. But whatever you guys can add about this one is helpful: thanks!

[Whitney]

Larou wrote: "No novel by Nabokov (who is one of my favourite authors) is without hidden depths, but Invitation to a Beheading is one of the rarer case where the weirdness is out on the surface.

To my feeling, ..."

I love the dreamlike imagery, and I think you nailed it with the "strangely compelling logic". It's difficult to express why some surreal imagery seems to work, while in other hands it can fall so flat. Walking through his front door and into the cell was perfect. The unnatural geometry also struck me, such as Emmie's ball making a right triangle in its travel through the cell. As I'm reading, I'm picturing many of these scenes as though they're in a Cocteau film.

I also picked up on the 'artist versus philistine' idea, as you put it. It reminds me of 'The Stranger' in that Cincinnatus has essentially been condemned for his difference from the common herd. The scene where he's being berated for not appreciating the antics of the boorish M'sieur Pierre imply this as well. It was interesting that the librarian seemed to share his disdain of M. Pierre. Maybe his association with books elevates him above the unwashed hordes.