Episode 194: Signs and Symbols (by Vladimir Nabokov)

The Easy Chair with Laura Hurwitz

Today on the podcast, it’s a fabulous short story by one of my favorite authors, Vladimir Nabokov. In “Symbols and Signs” an elderly couple visit their adult son, who they have committed to a psychiatric hospital, on his birthday. The son’s psychosis, “referential mania” has him convinced the universe is filled with symbols and signs. Everything around him is a veiled reference to his personality and existence. His parents know this is crazy. But on this day, signs and symbols indicate otherwise. This story will get you thinking about the power of love- and the razor-thin flashpoint between sanity and insanity. The podcast is brought to you by two of my faves, Brooklinen and Ritual! I start every day with Ritual (two minty capsules a day keep me at my peak) and end every day sliding between Brooklinen sheets, under my Brooklinen comforter. For Ritual: get 10% off your first three months by visiting www.ritual.com/easychair ! For Brooklinen: get 10% off your first order and free shipping by heading over to www.brooklinen.com and entering promo code CHAIR. Like me, you’ll find that Ritual and Brooklinen are the perfect bookends to your day! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.