“What does an act of rereading--both in and of Nabokov’s Lolita--involve, entail and encourage, exactly?” (Hustis 1). Harriet Hustis writes about the act of rereading to gain a true understanding of the book Lolita. Hustis discusses the different ways to truly get acquainted with the text as a reader. There are several rhetorical strategies Nabokov uses while writing Lolita to truly help the reader comprehend the characters and why they do what they do. Hustis uses several examples of how Nabokov utilizes backshadowing to reference previous parts of the text that you may not have recognized at first glance. Unlike visual perception, to understand a book you may have to read it not once but two, three, even four times to comprehend a deeper meaning.
There are many different ways to read and gain a great deal of knowledge about your piece. Hustis discovers both Vladimir Nabokov and Peter J. Rabinowitz different aspects of reading. In Rabinowitz’ chapter entitled ‘A Thousand Times and Never Like: Rereading for Class’, he discusses reading as two
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However, Hustis has also chosen to discuss a few of the things the readers have been outraged about, one being the ethics of Humbert. Humbert expresses contrition and professes his love to Lolita, and he also allows his passion for her to overcome him and he no longer paid attention to any other feelings. The reader experiences different pulls with Humbert, often times you want to scold his behavior and his impulses, although you too might feel the sudden urge to root for Humbert and Lolita. The complexity of Humbert Humbert’s recollections is displayed between the way views them after they occurred and how he felt in that very moment. Hustis brings attention to the moral dilemma we face as readers with our emotions toward the text and uses them to broaden your views an understanding of why Humbert Humbert partakes in such