An Oral Presentation

Voyeurism, impotence and incest–not your typical literary choices in the 1950’s. Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita was considered risqué at the time of its publication. While his other works, such as Bend Sinister and Laughter in the Dark were successful and made into films, American publishers would not go near Lolita, fearing the American public’s morality would be violated. Only France had enough courage to publish the novel in 1955. Lolita received both critical acclaim and harsh criticism over its depiction of an older European writer/teacher who becomes sexually and emotionally involved with his pre-teenage stepdaughter.

The topic of incest was, and still is, taboo. Just because incest was something that happened in many families did not mean that booklovers were ready to read about it in such detail. Many critics considered the novel to be pornographic. But, you must remember that not one sexual act was described in detail. It is only pornographic in the minds of the readers because Nabokov only gave the readers enough visual imagery to come up with their own conclusions.

Nabokov has a great flair for language (he grew up in Russia and was fluent in Russian, French and English; he was raised by aristocratic parents). I got a sense of what Humbert was going through as he struggled with his abnormal feelings for young girls. His words excite all of the five senses.

Even though pedophilia is a serious offense. I found Humbert’s guidelines, if you will, amusing and revolting at the same time.

Humbert’s obsession with nymphets (a term rarely used before Lolita’s publication) started when he was very young and manifested into something he could no longer control as he got older. He did not want to know any personal information about his prey–he only wanted to possess their entire beings. Whenever Humbert would describe the nymphets he spied on in the park, he reminded me of Grenouille’s (The Perfume) obsession with young virgins.

I believe that Humbert’s infatuation with nymphets is a cause of his inability to maintain a strong and normal relationship with a woman of his own age. Humbert’s first true love died when he was thirteen, which is a strong indication to his inability to emotionally connect with women. He has the emotional maturity of a thirteen-year-old boy. His inadequacies are often compared to a gun. His inability to discharge the weapon reflects his failure to complete any sexual act with a woman.

Humbert’s passion and intensity for Lolita is constantly described through intense visual images and emotions. I can almost get a sense of how intense his emotions are for Lolita after he "rescues" her from camp (after the death of her mother). He is supposed to be a bright and intelligent man–that is until Lolita makes her moves on him in the car.

Many may think that Lolita is an innocent pawn in Humbert sick love game. But she is not so innocent–Humbert discovers that he is not her first lover. She knows that she is not pure and she is proud of it. Humbert tries to shift the blame for his behavior onto Lolita–he makes an attempt of clearing himself of all guilt. In turn, Lolita tries to make Humbert look like the guilty party. But in fact, these two souls are both to blame.

Humbert knows he has an uncontrollable weakness for nymphets. But, he tries to assure us that any future relationships with nymphets will be approached with extreme caution.

Vladimir Nabokov’s command of language and visual imagery takes a delicate topic and handles it with tact and humility. I did not need him to go into great detail over the sexual relationship between Humbert Humbert and Dolores Haze–it was not necessary. It is not the sexual acts that are the substance of this novel. A seemingly innocent girl’s power over a seemingly intelligent man is what makes this novel one of the best of the twentieth century. It reminds us all that no one is perfect, regardless of outside appearances.