The Difference of a Sibilant: A Note on Pale Fire, Canto Three

Taking as metaphor Nabokov's apothegm about the cosmic and comic side of things, we apply this to Canto Three of Pale Fire and come up with a surprise: Not only does our illusionist poke solemn fun at the absurdities of the Institute of Preparation for the Hereafter, as we'd expect. He also allows amid the particolored confetti some somber themes to unfold their black striations, and illuminate the dark design of the whole.