Vladimir Nabokov’s, Lolita, is based on a pedophile named Humbert Humbert. He tells the story of how Humbert fell in love with a girl or what he refers to as a nymphet. A nymphet was a girl anywhere from the age of nine and fourteen. Lolita happened to be twelve; therefore, she fit into the category. When the reader is first introduced to Lolita, she seems innocent and naïve. But when Humbert Humbert notices her, he is instantly drawn to her. An attraction occurs and he knows he has to have her. Humbert Humbert had the advantage of staying with Lolita’s family, making it easier for him to get to know her. While spending his time with her and her family, he would make subtle hints towards Lolita.
These hints caught the attention of Lolita. Humbert says, “…for now she was not really looking at my scribble, but waiting with curiosity and composure- oh, my limpid nymphet! -for the glamorous lodger to do what he was dying to do” (Nabokov 49). He wanted to kiss her and she may have figured that out. Another incident occurred in the car on the way to a store. Lolita and Humbert were sitting next to each other and Humbert said that Lolita’s “hand slipped into mine” (Nobokov 51). Humbert was excited both times this happened, making it hard to believe what he says. Is Lolita as innocent as she makes herself seem? Or maybe Humbert Humbert is over-analyzing her every move.
I think you raise some really interesting points. I am just curious how our perspective changes if Humbert Humbert is actually seeing what he thinks he is seeing. Be aware of Humbert Humbert (which I think you most certainly are) but also be aware of Lolita. Something to think about while we explore this book is what is Lolita's perspective? At this point I'm not sure if we have much of her perspective, but once we do - how will that change the novel and our perspective?
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