Despair
Main Ideas
- Theme of duality and identity: The protagonist, Hermann, finds a man he believes to be his double and devises a murder plan to assume his identity.
- Moral decay and self-deception: Hermann justifies his actions and convinces himself of his genius despite clear moral and ethical violations.
- Irony and sarcasm: Nabokov employs an ironic and sarcastic tone to highlight the absurdity and futility of Hermann's actions.
- Psychological analysis: An exploration of the protagonist's inner world, his motives, fears, and self-deception.
- Critique of bourgeois society: Through Hermann's behavior and thoughts, Nabokov critiques the hypocrisy and emptiness of bourgeois values.
Date of publication: 30 August 2024
Updated: 14 November 2026
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Genre: Novel
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