Das Original des Originals von Laura. Zum Petrarkismus und seiner Aktualisierung bei Vladimir Nabokov: Skizze eines Neuansatzes zur Petrarkismus-Theorie

Abstract

This essay takes a reading of Vladimir Nabokov’s posthumous, fragmentary novel The Original of Laura (2009) as an opportunity to outline a new approach to the theory of Petrarchism. Whereas previous studies were primarily based on Chomsky’s transformational grammar or Bakhtin’s dialogicity, I propose conceptualising Petrarchism as a field of discursivity, building on Foucault’s notion of certain authors as ‘founders of discursivity’ (I). This conceptualisation is suitable both for bringing together the previous perspectives and filling the concept of ‘actualisation of Petrachism’ with meaning beyond the epochal divide between the early modern period and modernity. I then demonstrate this, reading Nabokov’s novel, for which, beyond the name ‘Laura’, a reference to Petrarch or, even more so, Pertrarchism is not normally assumed. I show structural similarities between the novel and the cycle of poems (II) and work out Nabokov’s actualisation not as a burlesque parody, but as a tragic reversal (III). This is emblematically condensed in one motif: Petrarch’s washed veil is contrasted with Nabokov’s soiled towel (IV). Finally, it emerges that even such a ‘modern’ Petrarchism remains male-centred (V).