Tow #4 - The Perfect Past (Vladimir Nabokov)

In The Perfect Past, Vladimir Nabokov examines his earliest childhood memories in an attempt to understand the way time is viewed from a child’s perspective. He approaches his lack of understanding on this subject by revisiting his first moments of consciousness. As an acclaimed Russian-American novelist, his ethos is automatic. In addition, as the memories discussed in the essay are his own, they are difficult to refute. This lends credence to his purpose, which is to ease the reader’s mind regarding the concept of time and to encourage said reader to look at their own earliest memories. This audience is those who are uncomfortable with the concept of time. To aid him in his purpose, Nabokov uses a fleeting mood, in which the childhood events he describes follow one another in a seemingly random order. Nabokov explains, “To fix correctly, in terms of time, some of my childhood recollections, I have to go by comets and eclipses” (308). This helps the purpose, as it gives the impression of time moving unpredictably. Nabokov also relies on inferences to make his point. He never states outright how each childhood memory affects him; the reader is intended to infer. Nabokov recalls, “He was about to do...a better trick when we were interrupted” (309). These inferences force the reader to consider their own childhood events, a key aspect of Nabokov’s purpose. Finally, the author’s use of imagery is essential to understanding his purpose. He writes, “The little black dog with very white teeth that dashed out from among the cottages…” (311). These descriptive interludes are a constant throughout the stream, in order to ease the reader’s mind regarding the passing of time. Ultimately, Nabokov is successful in accomplishing his purpose. Although it is somewhat abstract, Nabokov’s imagery, inferences, and mood offer enough clarity to allow the reader to understand his goal.