How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #7
One had to forget—because one could not live with the thought that this graceful, fragile, tender young woman with those eyes, that smile, those gardens and snows in the background, had been brought in a cattle car to an extermination camp and killed by an injection of phenol into the heart, into the gentle heart one had heard beating under one's lips in the dusk of the past. (5.5.16)
Have you noticed the link between death and love yet? In other cases, this might be a little unusual, but it makes perfect sense for Pnin. Since he left Russia during a period of intense violence, many of the people that he loved either died or were murdered. And Mira is perhaps the saddest of the bunch.
Quote #8
On the distant crest of the knoll, at the exact spot where Gramineev's easel had stood a few hours before, two dark figures in profile were silhouetted against the ember-red sky. They stood there closely, facing each other. One could not make out from the road whether it was the Poroshin girl and her beau, or Nina Bolotov and young Poroshin, or merely an emblematic couple placed with easy art on the last page of Pnin's fading day. (5.5.18)
Watch out for moments like this. This image ends Chapter 5, which is where we learn about Pnin's love for Mira. Every single one of the chapters in Pnin has an image like this that kind of summarizes the main theme of that part of the novel. In this case, it's an image of love in a chapter where we learn about Pnin's greatest love.
Quote #9
You, Lise, are surrounded by poets, scientists, artists, dandies. The celebrated painter who made your portrait last year is now, it is said, drinking himself to death (govoryat, spilsya) in the wilds of Massachusetts. Rumor proclaims many other things. And here I am, daring to write to you. I am not handsome, I am not interesting, I am not talented. I am not even rich. But, Lise, I offer you everything I have, to the last blood corpuscle, to the last tear, everything. And, believe me, this is more than any genius can offer you because a genius needs to keep so much in store, and thus cannot offer you the whole of himself as I do. I may not achieve happiness, but I know I shall do everything to make you happy. (7.3.6)
We'll wait a second while you dry your eyes. Is that not the most touching and romantic of love letters you ever read? Okay, it's a little dorky, but still we think it's pretty nice. We don't normally get to see Pnin express any strong emotions, but how do you think he feels about Liza? Compare that to how VN feels about her.