Close Reading (Chapter 9, Section 5)

"And behind it all there was yet a very special emotional abyss that I was desperately trying to skirt, lest I burst into a tempest of tears and this was the tender friendship underlying my respect for my father;  the charm of  our perfect accord; the Wimbledon matches we followed in the London papers; the chess problems we solved; the Pushkin iambics that rolled off his tongue so triumphantly whenever I mentioned some minor poet of the day. Our relationship was marked by that habitual exchange of homespun nonsense, intonations and all those private jokes which are the secret code of a happy family. With all that he was extremely strict in matters of conduct and given biting remarks when cross with child or servant, but his inherent humanity was too great to allow his rebuke to Osip for laying out the wrong shirt to be really offensive, just as a first-hand knowledge of a boy's pride tempered the harshness of reproval and resulted in sudden forgiveness. Thus I was more puzzled than pleased one day when upon learning that I had deliberately slashed my leg just above the knee with a razor (I still bear the scar) in order to avoid the recitation in class for which I was unprepared, he seemed unable to work up any real wrath; and his subsequent admission of a parallel transgression in his own boyhood rewarded me for not withholding the truth."

This part stuck out to me the most since it gives you a inner look into Nabokov's feelings about his relationship with his Father. Throughout section 5, Nabokov presents this conflict against his Father by a writer of a news article. The piece makes some untrue accusations against his Father, and the resolution is determined to be a duel to the death between the two men. 

In this section, Nabokov's little knowledge of the situation is apparent referencing how his Mother's solemn demeanor takes over her and how no one in his home addresses the situation. Nabokov's attention to his Father's increased training regime adds to the speculation of the duel and sends Nabokov's emotions into a frenzy. Nabokov analyzes the fears and concerns dealing with his Father's duel and the possibility of his Father not winning and dying on the field. The excerpt above best highlights Nabokov's emotions and how he feels about his Father. 

Many of Nabokov's classic characteristics as an author can be found in the way he describes his Father, specifically the chess games (which he references in Lolita), and the high culture of attending Wimbledon games and his interest in language and the usage of it. Nabokov's child-like fear of losing the most important man in his life is aware to readers and the reality of his picture perfect family is put into jeopardy. Only when the duel is apparently called off does Nabokov reveal externally through  tears of joy the emotions regarding the situation of losing his Father. 

Ten years later, Nabokov's father dies in battle after attempting to provide protection to someone else from Russian Fascists. By this point, Nabokov has spent more time with his Father is able to handle the reality of death and comes to terms with the family life his Father provided him. His Father serves as one of his biggest mentors..like Father, like Son.