Reading Lolita in America

My good friend bought me the classic Lolita by Vladamir Nabokov for my birthday (thanks, J-Birdie). I heard about the controversial book a few years back, and being a person who likes to investigate controversy (as well as being an English lit buff), decided I wanted to read it. Now, before I go further, let me explain what Lolita is not. It's not a pornographic book at all, although it does cover an older man's psychotic obsession with a teenage girl. It also isn't really vulgar since the narrator wants to maintain an air of romanticism toward his young love object. Finally, and most importantly for my own reputation, I definitely did not read it because it was about pedophilia. With all that established, let me discuss it.

Here's the synopsis for those who haven't heard about this. It's narrated by Humbert Humbert as his personal journal/deposition regarding his highly illegal and mainly psychotic obsession with 12-yr old Dolores (a.k.a., "Lo", or "Lolita"). This story, taking place in post-war America and published in 1955, could obviously cause some friction. Good ol' Hum, who continuously mentions the attractiveness of his physical looks, tells how Lolita's mother immediately falls in love with him. Being attracted to her daughter, he decides that it'd be advantageous to marry her so that way innocent Lo will become his daughter. When the girl's off to an all-female summer camp, Hamburg (who periodically gives himself nicknames like this) arranges to kill his new wife. Just as he was planning, she discovers Hum's passionate journal, which describes in detail of his feelings for Lolita. By a strange twist of fate (which is an important motif in the novel), he never has to carry out his death plans because she is accidentally ran over just minutes after reading the journal (imagine that!). Shortly after the funeral (about which Lolita knows nothing), H.H. essentially kidnaps Lolita and takes her across the continental United States until she runs away with another adult three years later. Throughout the novel, readers (who are supposed to members of a judicial panel that's reviewing Hum's case) find out that Lolita is not as innocent as they would be inclined to think: she allows Humbert to physically take advantage of her in order to get things she wantsand she personally engages in multiple dalliances with others. I won't spoil the ending, but this is the basic plot of the story.

Now on for the good stuff: Literary discussion!

Readers need to remember at all times that Humbert is mentally ill (he mentions multiple times about being institutionalized multiple times) so his narration cannot be full trusted (if at all). Throughout his hospitalizations, he managed to deceive his various psychiatrists. Since he is a master of charm, readers must wary when analyzing the themes of the novel. Nonetheless, here are some points I got out of reading:

• There are many instances where Hum mentions charming people into manipulation. However, he doesn't do it in a way to blatantly tell his readers (who are supposed to be people who determine a prison sentence, remember) that he is deceitful. It's a theme that must be implied. Indeed, it almost seems as if Hum is not a criminal after all; he's just another guy who falls in love with someone (albeit, a girl who's one-third his age!)


• Many references all have a mythical theme (hotels named after enchantment, magical forests, etc) that all hint at the type of force that Lolita has over him. Also, Hum calls girls like Lolita "nymphets" which are mythical female creatures who have powers of seduction.


• Irony: Hum is in love with Lolita because she looks so innocent, pure, and naive. Yet we find out that Lolita is truly conniving and deceitful herself.


• The cause for Humbert's pedophilia is very Freudian in nature. His adulthood sexual frustrations began in an unfulfilled sexual desire in his early adolescent years.


• Lolita's full name is Dolores Haze. In Spanish, dolores means "pain", while haze often symbolizes confusion or hidden nature.


• A very complex style of syntax (sentence/punctuation structure) and dication (wording) furthers Hum's deceitful nature. A good portion of the time, I couldn't quite make out what he was saying!


• One of Lolita's pasttimes is reading movie magazines and performing in school theaters. I think Nabokov uses this hobby to mirror Hum and Lo's relationship. On the outside, it seems as if Hum is a widower raising his step-daughter. Yet we're aware of what happens "backstage" in their private lives. Their exterior lifestyle is all an act.
  

I really appreciated the literary aspects in this novel. Yes, the topic was disturbing, but it cleverly showed the inner workings of a deranged man and the extreme measures he would commit to fulfill his personal infatuations. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's looking for a psychological work of fiction. At this point, I can't determine the main theme, or message, that this book is supposed to tell of humanity. If I do, I'll get back to you.