He had liked her enormously, and he loved Krug with the same passion that a big sleek long-flewed hound feels for the high-booted hunter who reeks of the marsh as he leans towards the red fire. Krug could take aim at a flock of the most popular and sublime human thoughts and bring down a wild goose any time. But he could not kill death.
In Vladimir Nabokov's "Bend Sinister," the protagonist experiences deep affections, feeling a profound connection to a woman and an intense love for Krug, akin to a hound's loyalty to a hunter. This imagery highlights the passionate bonds that human beings can form, illustrating the power dynamics between affection and admiration. Through vivid descriptions, the narrative explores the complexities of love and attachment.
Krug, while capable of engaging with lofty ideas and aspirations, ultimately grapples with the inescapable reality of mortality. The metaphor of shooting down sublime thoughts like wild geese portrays his struggle to achieve significant enlightenment. However, despite his abilities, he cannot conquer the inevitability of death, underscoring a central theme of human limitations in the face of existential truths.
