The Pattern of Cruelty and the Cruelty of Pattern in Vladimir Nabokov

Few of Nabokov's readers have begrudged him their admiration, but many their affection. A remarkable number of them—from Calvino to Rorty, Michael Wood, Joyce Carol Oates, Martin Amis and others—have cited his 'cruelty' as a reason. This essay traces this charge of cruelty not only to the thematic presence of cruelty in many of his works, but also to Nabokov's stated and practised views on art. Central here is his stated indifference to the concerns of 'average' readers and his practice of including signs and symbols in his work that point to a disguised pattern difficult both to make out and to interpret. This essay endeavours to clarify Nabokov's conception and use of pattern in his works and to suggest that it may help clarify the response of many of his readers.