Lolita

     The novel, Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov is a very unique novel. The premise of the story is about pedophilia and an incestuous relationship. Though the topic is so taboo to American audiences, yet, why do critics regard this as a great piece of literature?

     The way the novel is written is very unique one. The author writes that another ficticous author is transcribing the work of an author belonging in that fictional world. The presentation of the text softens the severity of the situation. The audience is receiving a bias side of the story from the pedophile whom is also the author.  Perhaps this is the genius in the novel. By being able to read a sincerely written novel by a mad man, it challenges the audience to pondeer deeply about the morality of the situations presented in the book.

     Morality , by definition, is conformity to the rules of right conduct. The pedophilic main character performs many acts that are unmoral. Through out the novel, he creates excuses like “ she seduced me to have sex” or “sex for children is like play” to justify his actions.  The novel was a very long one but for an effective purpose. The character of Humbert is presented as a complex one, whom isn’t immediately described as a villain. The audience is shown his progression in his psychology, which leads him to reveal that he is commiting  villainous actions. The novel presents a fair playing field for the audience to have not only the facts, but also, the psychology of the pedophile.

     With understanding both sides, I can state that the choices Humbert made were gravely morally wrong. Perhaps Humbert’s choices were rooted in his personal life issues stemming from childhood, but he caused the physical and spiritual death of many people. His obsession is also a selfishness that he succumbed to. That obsession  resulted in his downfall.

     Humbert’s relationships seemed to all have been without true emotion and he was merely using people as tools. His relationship with his first wife was ruined with his lust for his so called “ nymphets”. His mind and passion was else where, leaving his wife with a husk of a man.  

     His next wife was a mere pawn so that he could have a chance at becoming closer in attempt to be sexually intimate of her daughter. When Ms. Haze found and read his diary, she was blinded by sadness, ultimately accidentally killing herself.  And Lolita herself was the tool in which Humbert could satisfy his cravings rooted in his early childhood.

     The trips that Humbert made with Lolita in an attempt to explore and see America “did not do America justice.” They were just escapades to satisfy his sexual tool and appetite. There is no morality in this man's heinous acts. He fondels a child and then claims and wishes that she doesnt mind. His motives are driven from his selfishness. His acts are blind and ruthless. Humbert has a distorted view of himself throughout the novel often times placing him as the innocent victim.  Though I pity the man, I cannot forgives his terrible deeds.

      I thought as a work of literature itself, the novel Lolita was a very interesting one. It moves out of the norm allowing the audience to peer into the mind of a psycho path. Content wise, I was left feeling disgusted and angry. Thank goodness this is a work of creative fiction.