Nabokov's Writing Style

Nabokov writing in his office.

Nabokov can be compared to Edgar Allan Poe through one similarity: they both think the way a piece of writing sounds is of high importance. Nabokov's use of long sentences and many adjectives can be seen in quotes such as this one.

"We had been everywhere. We had really seen nothing. And I catch myself thinking today that our long journey had only defiled with a sinuous trail of slime the lovely, trustful, dreamy, enormous country, that, by then, in retrospect, was no more than a collection of dog-eared maps, ruined tour books, old tires and her sobs in the night—every night, every night—the moment I feigned sleep."

The way Lolita presents humor is also unusual. Since the novel has a dark undertone, it had to present humor in a different way so that it doesn't clash with the conflict of the novel. Humor in Lolita is presented through insults, mainly from Humbert to Charlotte.

Lolita is also a deceptive novel. This is elaborated more on this blog post. Nabokov uses narration to get the reader on Humbert's side and to get the reader to feel sympatetic towards him.

Review: Lolita's Impact & Contribution to the Sexualization of Young Girls

"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. 

Lo. Lee. Ta."

Without context, this quote would most likely be regarded as a heartfelt quote about a relationship. With context, however, this quote takes on a deeper meaning. When the reader learns that the person saying this quote is a grown man, and the light of his life he speaks of is his 12 year old stepdaughter.

Simply put, Lolita is a novel about a pedophile. It is a brilliantly written novel about a pedophile, but it is still about a pedophile. No matter how Humbert Humbert tries to victimize himself, it is important for the reader to look past that and remember that Lolita is the victim in the novel. When the reader falls for Humbert's trap, they get into what author Meenakshi Gigi Durham has referred to as The Lolita Effect.

As said before, Lolita is a brilliantly written novel. However, it should

not be written by anyone who is easily convinced of anything.  This

novel definitely has contributed to the sexualization of teenage girls 

and children.  Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation seems to give in to Humbert's narration. 

Not only does Kubrick attempt to normalize pedophilia by giving Humbert a reason to find 

Lolita attractive, but he also makes it seem like their sexual relationship is consensual 

rather than rape.

Someone who has experienced any form of sexual harassment should also approach this book with caution. 

Overall, Lolita is a great novel, and it's convincing writing style has proved to be both a blessing and a curse in pop culture.

Theme

Broad Theme

Encountering justice & injustice is apparent in this novel.  In Humbert's relationships, one partner faces justice and the other faces injustice.  The theme can be specified more to fit these relationships, especially Humbert and Lolita's.

Specific Theme [spoiler alert]

When someone is in love with another person, one of them faces justice and the other faces injustice.  Humbert faces justice when he is able to have sex with Lolita and become closer with her.  Lolita faces injustice when her mother is killed and when she is forced into a relationship with Humbert.

Conflicts

Person vs. Society

Humbert's unusual interests combat societal expectations of grown men.  Society tends to disapprove of pedophilia and incest; Humbert practices both of these.  He attempts to mask this by marrying grown women with child-like qualities.  He also married adult women to try and overcome his pedophilia.  He pretends to be in love with Charlotte so he can live with her and be closer to Lolita.

Humbert Humbert's History

In His Life

In Humbert's childhood, he involved himself in a tragic romance with Annabel Leigh.  Since his relationship with Annabel ended, Humbert has had a craving for the girl Annabel represents: a nymphet.

In Humbert's life, he has attempted to marry adult women to distract himself from this craving, but has been unable to do so.  

In the Novel

Humbert proves to be an unreliable narrator in this novel.  He attempts to convince the reader that the relationship between him and Lolita was in her control, and that she seduced him first.  The reader should realize that it is Humbert who has control of the relationship; Not only because he is the adult, but also because he controls their money and Lolita's freedom.  He doesn't consider his actions from a moral standpoint, and remains the same pedophile through the entire novel.  The only time Humbert counters this is the end of the novel, when he admits he stole Lolita's childhood.

Adaptations

• Lolita - 1962 film by Stanley Kubrick

• Lolita, My Love - 1971 musical by Alan Jay Lerner and John Barry

• Lolita - 1982 play by Edward Albee

• Lolita - 1992 opera by Rodion Shchedrin

• Lolita - 1997 film by Adrian Lyne

• Lolita - 2003 play by Victor Sobchak

• Lolita - 2003 play adapted by Michael West based on Nabokov's screenplay

• Lolita - 2003 ballet by Davide Bombana

• "Darkbloom: An Overture for an Imagined Opera" - 2005 piece by John Harbison

• Lolita - 2009 "imagined opera" by Joshua Fineberg and Johanne Saunier

• Lolita - 2009 one man drama by Richard Nelson

• "Four Humors Lolita: a Three-Man Show" - 2013 play by Four Humors

Characters

• Humbert Humbert - the narrator of the novel

• Charlotte Haze-Humbert - Humbert's wife, whom he married in order to get closer to Lolita

• Dolores "Lolita" Haze - Charlotte's daughter and the subject of Humbert's obsession

• Valeria - Humbert's ex-wife

• Annabel Leigh - Humbert's ex-girlfriend from his youth whom he thinks about frequently

About

Original book cover.

Lolita is a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov and published in 1955.  The genre of the novel isn't clear, but it can be interpreted as either romance or drama.  It is known for its controversial subject: an unreliable narrator named Humbert Humbert who becomes sexually involved with his 12 year old stepdaughter, Lolita.  The novel also provides some background information about Humbert and how his obsession with young girls, whom he called "nymphets", came to be.