Death Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““I got out of the car and slammed its door. How matter-of-fact, how square that slam sounded in the void of the sunless day! Woof, commented the dog perfunctorily. I pressed the bell button, it vibrated through my whole system. Personne. Je resonne. Repersonne. From what depth this re-nonsense? Woof, said the dog. A rush and a shuffle, and woosh-woosh went the door. Couple of inches taller. Pink-rimmed glasses. New, heaped-up hairdo, new ears. How simple! The moment, the death that I had kept conjuring up for three years was as simple as a bit of dry wood. She was frankly and hugely pregnant. Her head looked smaller (only two seconds had passed really, but let me give them as much wooden duration as life can stand), and her pale-freckled cheeks were hollowed, and her bare shins and arms had lost all their tan, so that the little hairs showed. She wore a brown, sleeveless felt dress and sloppy felt slippers. 'We-e-ell!' she exhaled after a pause with all the emphasis of wonder and welcome. 'Husband at home?' I croaked, fist in pocket. I could not kill her, of course, as some have thought. You see I loved her. It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Gift, 1938
The narrator confronts surreal, fragmented reality, blending mundane actions with profound existential reflection.
In simple terms: Life’s moments mix ordinary with deep meaning.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the strange in everyday life.
Themes
existential
surrealism
identity
Mood
enigmatic
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- therapy
- mindfulness practice
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
narrative structure
psychology
perception
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the door symbolize?
- How does the dog’s comment affect tone?
A Different Perspective
The chaotic style may obscure clear interpretation for some readers.
![“...under no circumstances would he [Humbert Humbert] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f0/vladimir-nabokov-198_children_under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert_16228.jpg)
