The entire first part of the story lends an air of similarity to the New Testament that is undeniable.

Using it as a foreground for the remainder of the story enhanced the overall veracity of such a narrative. To read the allusions made to the life of Christ and at the same time to the life of Cincinnatus was an intriguing ploy by Vladimir that allowed the reader to both explore and understand the methodology of which he was using to present the story.

Further references and allusions throughout the story are as evident as the ones written about above. One of the easiest to discern came towards the last of the book when first the assistant director speaks to the crowd and then nimbly turns the stage over to M'sieur Pierre who directs Cincinnatus to disrobe of the 'little shirt' before being shown how to lie down for execution. Much like leading the lamb to a slaughter, this passage depicts the final execution and its simplicity.

Cincinnatus completely loses his...

The reader senses that Cincinnatus has gone one to bigger and better things especially after reading the last line, "Cincinnatus made his way in that direction where, to judge by the voices, stood beings akin to him."
This is a remarkable method of culminating a story and one that comes directly from the New Testament. In Mark 15:39 is stated; "And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God."

One can almost imagine M'sieur Pierre standing over the body of Cincinnatus and in much the same manner stating; "truly this man was a man among men." Whether Vladimir Nabakov meant it to sound, or read, in that manner, is left entirely up to the reader's discretion, but the evidence is overwhelmingly in support of such a conjecture.

Works Cited

Nabakov, Vladimir, Invitation to a Beheading,

New Testament, King James Version