Invitation to a Beheading

Vladimir Nabokov, author of the novel LOLITA, where the lolita complex has originated. In my search for the book lolita i have stumbled to this book. I have to admit I bought the book because it is written by VN and the reason that the book intrigue me when i read the back sumary is just secondary.

In some books that I read, the first 2 - 3 chapters already gives me the insight on what the book really is. But for this one, it took me to the half of the book until I realize what the book is trying to tell its reader. It was not until M'sieur Pierre's appearance in the book that I started to realize that the book in a whole is an irony or a parable of our human sociaty.

Here is Cincinnatus C. put to jail and sentence to death of dicapitation because he doesn't blend well in his sociaty. Sounds familiar doesn't it? Reading further into the book, you would realize that the annoying director of the jail Rodrig, projects the ruling government of a sociaty where they strive to put on a positive face to the public but in reality they only have some selfish aganda brewing in thier minds. Rodion the jailer on the other hand is the type of people where we call them "kiss asses people". People who suck up to superiors in able to get high enough to the corporate world and gain fame and fortune. Emmie the daugther of Rodrig, which VN actually called the cousin of lolita, projects the infidelities, lust and playfulness of humans. Here she acts as a carefree girl playing in the jail cells and visiting Cincinnatus in his jail cell. Later on in the book, she throws herself to him and asking him for marrage. However, in the appearance of M'sieur Pierre who is really the executioner of Cincinnatus who poses as his fellow jail mate and friend, this is where everything made sense to me. M'sieur Pierre visits him everyday bringing all kinds of family pictures of his, playing chess with him or simply just having a cup of tea of Cincinnatus. MP is the very epotime of a person in our lives who claims to be our friend but then will betray us, or for this matter the ones who beheaded us without us knowing. He talks about certain things in life. One thing is when he talked about death. That Death itself should not be feared or something like that. That he even finds it an honor to be the one to beheaded Cincinnatus. There are alot of things that M'sieur Pierre talks about with Cincinnatus which I find it appealing couse he actually makes sense in terms of how he see/persive the world entairly.

In the end upon the execution of Cincinnatus in the court yard everyone is present. When the axe finally falls down his neck, everything vanishes. Its as if Cincinnatus just dreamed about the whole thing. I have to admit if it weren't for lines of wisdom and truth within the context of the book I would brand the book a complete nonsence and a complete waste of time.