What Is The Manipulation Of Lolita By Vladimir Nabokov

How is a story that was first turned down as pornagraphic trash considered one of the finest novels of the twentieth century? Lolita was written by Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian immigrant who fled Bolshevik Russia in 1919. Even though English was his second language, he became a master of English prose and a distinguished entomologist. Lolita is his finest work and one which shocked the literary world in 1955. The story is told in first person by Humbert Humbert, the main character, and, as such, we read the story of his life from his viewpoint. We see Humbert as a privileged child who grows up without a mother or any real motherly love. He experiences several deaths at an early age which traumatise him. Later in adult life, Humbert develops

Lolita grew more demanding of Humbert and was no longer satisfied with simple or cheap gifts. At one town, “I bought her four books of comics, a box of candy, a box of sanitary pads, two cokes, a manicure set, a travel clock with a luminous dial, a ring with a real topaz, a tennis racket, rollerskates with white high shoes, field glasses, a portable radio set, chewing gum, a transparent rain coat, sunglasses, some more garments“ (pg 142). Perhaps because of her hopeless situation Lolita becomes spiteful and ruthless. “She proved to be a cruel negotiator whenever it was in her power to deny me certain life wrecking, strange, slow paradisal philters without which I could not live more than a few days.” (pg 184) Even after Lolita leaves Humbert and marries Dick Schiller she tries to manipulate Humbert to pay for their debts and moving to Alaska. “We could manage with three or four hundred.” “I have gone through much sadness and hardship.” (pg 266) Although Humbert clearly ruined Lolitas life, she cannot keep away from him when it comes to needing material support. Faced with the absoluteness of her enslavement Lolita learns to manipulate Humbert to get what she

He studied English and as a writer, by trade, is deceptive and surprisingly convincing. Many times in the story Humbert speaks directly to the reader to describe his hardship. “This I can confess under torture. Imaginary torture, perhaps, but all the more horrible.” (pg 70) He even has the gall to claim that he did not rape Lolita. “I am going to tell you something very strange: it was she who seduced me.” (pg 132) Humbert asks for our sympathy because he claims to love this child who does not return the feeling and yet he doesn’t know very much about her. “I loved you. I was a pentapod monster, but I loved you.” “And there were times when I knew how you felt, and it was hell to know it, my little one.” (pg 284-285) The manipulation of the reader through Humberts first person account is like an anvil to the malicious pedophiles hammer. The collision between the two forces the reader to consider the value of individuality and