How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #10
Hagen, playing his last card, suggested Pnin could teach a French language course: like many Russians, our friend had had a French governess as a child, and after the Revolution he lived in Paris for more than 15 years.
"You mean," asked Blorenge sternly, "he can speak French?"
Hagen, who was well aware of Blorenge' s special requirements, hesitated.
"Out with it, Herman! Yes or no?"
"I am sure he could adapt himself."
"He does speak it, eh?" We can' t use him in first-year French. It would be unfair to our Mr. Smith, who gives the elementary course this term and, naturally, is required to be only one lesson ahead of his students.
Now it so happens that Mr. Hashimoto needs an assistant for his overflowing group in intermediate French. Does your man read French as well as speak it?"
"I repeat, he can adapt himself," hedged Hagen.
"I know what adaptation means," said Blorenge, frowning.
"In 1950, when Hash was away, I engaged that Swiss skiing instructor and he smuggled in mimeo copies of some old French anthology. It took us almost a year to bring the class back to its initial level. Now, if what' s-his-name does not read French—"
"I' m afraid he does," said Hagen with a sigh.
"Then we can' t use him at all. As you know, we believe only in speech records and other mechanical devices. No books are allowed."
"There still remains advanced French," murmured Hagen.
"Carolina Slavski and I take care of that," answered Blorenge. (6.3.2)
It's okay if that didn't make any sense to you at all, because there was no sense to be made. Even though he only appears for brief moment, Blorenge is almost certainly the most bizarre and detestable character in the whole novel. Why is this guy so against the idea of a teacher who actually knows the language lecturing students? Do you think that Pnin would have gotten the job if he didn't speak French? And, um, what does this say about the state of university education?