ON THE ISSUE OF THE BIBLE CODE IN THE STORY "WINGSTROKE" BY V. NABOKOV
The study of the poetics of Nabokov’s short stories provides deep understanding of his metaphysics and thanatology. In particular, "Wingstroke" gives a valuable information for analyzing the mystical discourse of the writer. As a rule, Nabokov's mysticism is Christian one. The peculiarity of the story is the direct quotation from the Bible (the passages about the Leviathan from the Book of Job). The writer puts the characters into the necrospace of the skiing resort, which is metaphysically occupied by dark forces. Nabokov uses the biblical allusions to create the impression of eschatological doom of the people who have chosen the internal opposition to God. Besides that, the author expresses the idea of the active presence of supernatural forces in earthly reality. Their goal is to seduce and destroy people's lives. The passages from the Book of Job are quoted by mysterious Monfiori in his dialogue with the main character, thirty-five year old Kern, the potential suicide. Monfiori is his infernal tempter and metaphysical doppelganger, mirroring his despondency. He asks Kern whether he believes in God. Monfiori disagrees with his negative answer and says that the biblical God exists and He is not alone, that there are numerous biblical gods and Monfiori' s favorite one is the Leviathan. It is something like a gospel giving an opportunity to make an informed choice. The opposition of God and gods, the destruction of escapism, the problem of suicide are considered in the article. Much attention is given to ontological poetics and the chronotope.