Motif of Infidelity in V. Nabokov’s Laughter in the Dark

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to present a model and function of infidelity in one of V. Nabokov Russian language novels, The Laughter in the Dark. Infidelity motif plays a key role in characters creation and action development. Characters are immersed in a complicated infidelity scheme, interchange, forming unusual plot spider web. Discussed novel, in the means of structure and subject, reminds previous novel of Russian-American author – King, Queen, Knave. Moreover, infidelity motif is additionally complemented by other, repeating in Nabokov works, motifs (butterflies, mirrors, crime and punishment, and more).