The Nabokov family tree is gnarled, gigantic, and far-reaching. It's chock full of wealthy hunters, opera singers, petty criminals, and government lackeys. But "Speak, Memory" isn't about just about family characters. It's about legacy and inheritance, genetic, financial, and otherwise. Nabokov uses his connection with immediate family members and ancient ancestors to explore his own identity. Through the family, Nabokov is able to reveal and explore the politics of the time without subjecting us to a history lesson: Dad's rebellious and won't work for the Tsar, while Brother Sergey is mistaken for a British spy and sent to a Nazi concentration camp. Though it can be definitely be a little brutal at times, we're able to experience the life of the world through the life of the Nabokov family, and then some.
Questions About Family
- Vladimir can be a solitary little kid. Can you think of places in the book where family is a stand-in for the wider world?
- Nabokov mentions "all those private jokes which are the secret code of happy families," but we never get a firsthand account of these yuks. What seems to be behind this decision?
- What are the differences between the way the book talks about Vladimir's relationship with his mother and his father? What accounts for these differences?
- In what ways does Nabokov try to stay connected to memories of his family? In what ways does he deviate from them?
Chew on This
By offering readers the full account of his family, Nabokov is able to create more echoes and patterns in the book, which makes his character feel connected despite his exile and subsequent move to the U.S.
Vladimir's family is ultimately lost to him after they leave him and his brother in Cambridge.