Lolita – Nabakov's Classic Novel
Pedophilia in Fiction – The Psychology of Nabokov's Lolita
Aug 13, 2009
"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul." *(1)
So begins the first chapter of Lolita. Originally written in English, this novel was later translated into Russian by Nabokov (who wrote literature in English, Russian and French)
Passionate and Romantic Delusions: A Pedophile's Mind
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, exhibit number one is what the seraphs, the misinformed, simple noble-winged seraphs, envied. Look at this tangle of thorns." *(2)
The genius of this strange and disquieting tale is that most readers find themselves momentarily transformed into the mind of a pedophile, closely sharing his innermost thoughts (which are mostly only disguised justifications) and tortured feelings, while reading a book that simultaneously condemns him.
Transferred deeply into Humbert's idealistic, but lustful, psyche, one remains aware of what a disturbed and delusionary place that is. Nevertheless, this mental transference occurs to the extent that some readers – just like Humbert himself – will grossly misinterpret the child, Lolita’s, actions. Lolita comes across as a sexually precocious child, because that’s the way Humbert’s mind wants her to be, and the reader is fooled by Humbert’s own mind.
The Psychology Behind Humbert and Lolita
In truth, Lolita behaves just as all normal children do – innocently uninhibited and vulnerably open – but Humbert sees this as an invitation for seduction. Lolita is guileless as any other child, but the twisted fantasy of Humbert degrades her as he forces his own deviant version of reality upon her.
Humbert's Molestation of Lolita
Completely alone after her mother’s untimely death (Humbert married her only because of his secret love for Lolita), Lolita is repeatedly molested by the man who takes on a role of caregiver and stepfather. Believing his abject sexual abuse toward Lolita is an act of real love, Humbert is incapable of seeing his own worse flaw.
Nabokov's Style
The lyrical prose of Lolita is so beautifully written that the poetry of Nabokov’s words adequately shield against the deviance of its subject matter. It is a masterpiece of literature.
"I am thinking of aurochs and angels, the secret of durable pigments, prophetic sonnets, the refuge of art. And this is the only immortality you and I may share, my Lolita." (*3)
In this sad and gripping novel, one must pity both Lolita and Humbert, who, by the end of the book are both spiritually ruined by his selfish and misguided passions.
*(1) Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov, Volume One, p. 15, The Traveller's Companion Series, 7 rue Saint-Severin, Paris, 1959
*(2) Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov, Volume One, p. 15, The Traveller's Companion Series, 7 rue saint-Severin, Paris, 1959
*(3) Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov, Volume Two, p. 221, The Traveller's Companion Series, The Olympia Press, 7 rue Saint-Severin, Paris, 1959
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