Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is, without the slightest controversy, a unique literary work. Although the novel is portrayed from Humbert Humbert’s standpoint, Nabokov provides enough information to inevitably force one to favor either Lolita or Humbert Humbert. I favor Lolita. Humbert Humbert- a possessive, psychotic, delusional, selfish pedophile- is a man who has yet to cease turning my stomach. However, not all readers feel as I do. Some love Humbert Humbert and offer a strong counter argument to my opinions; one may feel Humbert Humbert truly loves Lolita and she has seduced him.
Humbert Humbert finds every aspect of Lolita delightfully becoming. The way she moves, speaks and acts fascinates him. He finds beauty in the simplest forms. Lolita- marvelously mature for her age- is aware of Humbert’s scandalous feelings and she uses them to her advantage. Charlotte and Lolita do not share a healthy mother-daughter relationship; Charlotte loathes her daughter. In an effort to attain the ultimate form of spite against her mother, Lolita flirts with Humbert. If flirting is a form of seduction, than I do agree with Humbert supporters in the sense Lolita “seduced” Humbert Humbert. I do not, however, think Humbert Humbert truly loved Lolita.
After Lolita had sex with Humbert, she wanted to call her mother. Lolita had satisfied her desire to spite her mother. Unfortunately, Humbert had been deceiving her throughout their trip and finally confessed Charlotte was dead. It is here that Humbert’s unloving characteristics are highlighted. Personally, I do not think love entails deceiving or drugging a loved one. Furthermore, treating a “lover”, who happens to be a step daughter, as a sex slave is certainly not a form of love. Humbert gives her petty change and buys her desirable items in order for him to have his way with her. Lolita is trapped. If she were to go to the police Humbert states, “you would become the ward of the Department of Public Welfare. [They] will take away your lipstick and fancy clothes. You will dwell in a dirty dormitory under the supervision of hideous matrons” (Nabokov 151). Lolita was left no choice; she could not expose Humbert.
Humbert’s feelings for Lolita are not love, but lust. Humbert states, “lust is never quite sure- even when the velvety victim is locked up in one’s dungeon” (Nabokov 125). Humbert’s lustful fantasies and practices ultimately lead Lolita to seek love else where. She loves Claire Quilty.
You bring up some very interesting points, Melissa. I agree with your statement that Humbert Humbert’s feelings for Lolita are not love, but lust. Though he may think that he loves Lolita, I believe he is treating her more like a prostitute, rather than a lover. Lolita is being paid for her sexual favors towards Humbert Humbert, and in my opinion, that is not love. I believe Humbert Humbert is in love with the idea that he loves Lolita, despite not truly loving her. However, Nabokov’s exaggerated feelings towards Lolita lead me to second guess my belief that Humbert Humbert does not love his nymphet. Early on in the novel Nabokov writes, “Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth” (Nabokov 9). Throughout Lolita, Nabokov conveys his passion and obsession for Lolita through his descriptions of her. I think enough information is evident throughout the novel to allow one to argue each position – love or lust.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Humbert Humbert's actions towards Lolita make my stomach turn as well. As a grown man, he should learn to control his emotions and hormones so he does not emotionally and mentally damage Lolita. I agree that Lolita did only flirt or "seduce" Humbert Humbert in attempts to spite her mother. Lolita, who was entering a pre-pubescent stage, was starting to experience the beginning of teenage rebellion from ones parents. However, I do believe that it is Lolita's fault that she is in the position she is in now. If she were really maturing into adulthood as you said, she would try to take Humbert Humbert away from her mother, who had clear feelings for Humbert. Although it is difficult for me to side with either of these two degenerates, I have to say that it is Lolita's own fault for being caught in a situation where she is under a watchful eye of a psychotic pedophile.
ReplyDelete