Key Facts

full title Lolita author Vladimir Nabokov type of work Novel genre Postmodern novel; tragicomedy language English time and place written 19491955 Ne! "ork date of first publication 1955 publisher #lym$ia Press Paris narrator %&mbert %&mbert narrates the novel 'rom his $rison cell a$$ro(imately 'ive years a'ter the events he describes) *he 'ore!ord to the novel is narrated by +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-) in 1955 three years a'ter the deaths o' %&mbert and Lolita) point of view %&mbert narrates his acco&nt o' his a''air !ith Lolita %a.e in the 'irst $erson 'oc&sing only on his o!n tho&ghts and emotions) tone -arkly comic; sly; intellect&al; alternating bet!een bem&sed !eariness and s!ee$ing romanticism tense %&mbert %&mbert describes the ma/ority o' the events in the $ast tense b&t he 'rames his acco&nt !ith $assages o' $resent tense narration) setting (time) 19401951 setting (place) 2nitially the 3o&th o' 4rance and &nnamed locations in E&ro$e then all over the 5nited 3tates protagonist %&mbert %&mbert major conflict *he $rimary con'licts in the novel are bet!een %&mbert %&mbert and society !hich disa$$roves o' both incest and $edo$hilia and bet!een %&mbert %&mbert and 6lare 7&ilty !ho com$etes !ith %&mbert 'or Lolita8s a''ections) rising action %&mbert takes Lolita on the road in an e''ort to control her behavior and cement his $ossession o' her) 9y traveling he ho$es to hide his and Lolita8s identities:and relationshi$:thereby avoiding society8s disa$$roval and el&ding his rival 6lare 7&ilty) climax %&mbert8s $lan 'ails !hen Lolita esca$es him r&nning o'' !ith 6lare 7&ilty a'ter a brie' stay in the hos$ital)

falling action %&mbert s$ends the ne(t several years trailing Lolita and attem$ting to e(act his revenge on 7&ilty) themes *he $o!er o' lang&age; the dis$iriting incom$atibility o' E&ro$ean and ;merican c&lt&res; the inade<&acy o' $sychiatry; the alienation ca&sed by e(ile motifs 9&tter'lies; do&bles; games symbols *he theater; $rison foreshadowing 6ontin&o&s= %&mbert describes $ast events &sing the $resent tense dro$$ing hints in the 'orm o' clever !ord$lay and he o'ten all&des to events $eo$le and $laces the reader has not yet enco&ntered)

Context
Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov !as born in 3t) Petersb&rg ,&ssia on ;$ril 1> 1?99 into a 'amily !ith a long history o' $&blic service and scholarshi$) ;'ter the ,&ssian ,evol&tion o' 1910 Nabokov and his 'amily !ent into e(ile in England) *riling&al in ,&ssian English and 4rench 'rom an early age Nabokov earned an honors degree in 3lavic and ,omance lang&ages 'rom *rinity 6ollege 6ambridge in 1911) %e embarked &$on a literary career !riting $rimarily in ,&ssian) ;mong his notable early !orks !as a ,&ssian translation o' Le!is 6arroll8s Alice in Wonderland) 2n 1915 Nabokov married Vera 3lonim and in 19>4 their only child -mitri !as born) *he Nabokovs lived in both @ermany and 4rance be'ore emigrating to the 5nited 3tates in 194A !here Nabokov ta&ght literat&re co&rses at Bellesley and 6ornell 5niversities) *he move to ;merica also ins$ired Nabokov to begin !riting in English) 9y 1955 Nabokov had already $&blished a n&mber o' novels b&t had yet to create his master$iece Lolita !hich Nabokov began !riting in 1949) 2t !as originally re/ected by no 'e!er than 'o&r ;merican $&blishers !ho 'o&nd the story o' a middleCaged $ro'essor8s l&st 'or his $reteen ste$da&ghter too in'lammatory 'or $&blication) 5nda&nted Nabokov $ersisted and Lolita !as event&ally $&blished in 4rance in 1955 by the marginally re$&table #lym$ia Press) *ho&gh it !as condemned in some corners as scandalo&s trash Lolita became an &ndergro&nd literary sensation in 4rance) -riven by the gro!ing critical acclaim 'or the book P&tnam $&blished an ;merican edition o' the novel in 195?) 3ome co&ntries deemed Lolita obscene and banned it b&t the novel became a best seller in the 5nited 3tates des$ite its controversial s&b/ect matter) 2n its 'rank disc&ssions o' 'orbidden desire and se(&ality Lolita !as revol&tionary 'or its time) *ho&gh s&ch !riters as -) %) La!rence and +ames +oyce had !ritten abo&t se(&ality at the t&rn o' the cent&ry and tho&gh the evol&tion o' $sychology had bro&ght the themes o' se(&ality and re$ression to the 'ore'ront o' $o$&lar c&lt&re no book had so e($licitly e($$lored the darker elements o' se( and desire) Nabokov !as not a $ro$onent o' 4re&dian $sychology b&t he co&ld not ignore its im$act on literat&re or on the st&dy o' h&man emotion) 2n Lolita he attem$ts to s&bvert the traditional vie!s o' se(&ality and $sychology !hile $retending to $ay homage to them)

Lolita also re$resents a classic e(am$le o' $ostmodern literat&re) Postmodernism arose in the early years o' the t!entieth cent&ry and re$resented in $art a move a!ay 'rom the notion that a novel sho&ld tell a realistic story 'rom an ob/ective $ers$ective) Postmodern !riters are $rimarily interested in !riting that evokes the 'ragmentary nat&re o' e($erience and the com$le(ity o' lang&age) %&mbert %&mbert the $rotagonist o' Lolita narrates the novel 'rom a highly s&b/ective $oint o' vie! and he &ses rich so$histicated lang&age to do so) Lolita contains a vast variety o' ling&istic devices incl&ding $&ns m&ltiling&al e($ressions artistic all&sions !ord $atterns and re'erences to other !orks) *hese devices 'ollo!ed 'rom the thenC$o$&lar idea that a novel !as not a 'i(ed !ork o' literat&re b&t rather a more 'l&id organic creation that !as interconnected !ith other media) %&mbert8s elegant and sin&o&s $rose ho!ever conceals a s&bversive intent) *he bea&ty and intensity o' the lang&age allo! readers to remain sym$athetic to the $edo$hile $rotagonist and com$el them to read '&rther des$ite the n&mero&s distressing events !ithin the novel) *ho&gh Lolita is a 'ictional memoir Nabokov act&ally shared many $ersonality traits !ith his $rotagonist %&mbert %&mbert) 9oth men !ere highly ed&cated academically oriented E&ro$ean e(iles !ho made their homes in ;merica and both $ossessed a com$elling gi't 'or lang&age) %o!ever &nlike the $edo$hiliac del&sional %&mbert Nabokov !as a devoted 'amily man !ho lived a <&iet scholarly e(istence) 9eca&se o' Lolita8s s&ccess as a novel and as a 'ilm Nabokov had the '&nds to retire to 3!it.erland in 19DA and devote himsel' e(cl&sively to !riting &ntil his death in 1900) ; $roli'ic a&thor Nabokov8s other notable !orks incl&de Speak, Memory: An Autobiography Revisited E1951F Pnin E1950F Pale Fire E19D1F and Ada or Ardor: A Family hronicle E19D9F) Nabokov also develo$ed talents and hobbies besides !riting) %is $assion 'or le$ido$tera the st&dy o' b&tter'lies earned him a $osition !ith the G&se&m o' Nat&ral %istory in Ne! "ork) %e !as also a skilled chess $layer a creator o' ,&ssian cross!ords and an avid tennis $layer) Lolita !as t!ice ada$ted 'or 'ilm) 3tanley H&brick directed the 'irst ada$tation starring +ames Gason 3&e Lyons and Peter 3ellers in 19D1) Nabokov himsel' !orked on the scri$t and the controversial 'ilm tho&gh generally !ell received garnered criticism 'or being too darkly comical on the s&b/ect o' $edo$hilia) Lolita !as ada$ted 'or 'ilm again in 1990 by director ;drian Lyne and starred +eremy 2rons -omini<&e 3!ain and 4rank Langella) *he movie stirred &$ controversy once again this time 'or its se( scenes bet!een 2rons and the &nderage 3!ain) ;'ter some di''ic&lty 'inding an ;merican distrib&tor Lyne released the movie to mi(ed revie!s) Bhile elements o' Lolita lend themselves to 'ilm and tho&gh the novel e($licitly recogni.es 'ilm as an in'l&ence neither 'ilm '&lly ca$t&res the com$licated mi( o' acrobatic lang&age black comedy and tender romantic sentiment 'or !hich the novel had become 'amo&s) *he novel has n&mero&s re'erences:'rom cr&de lo!bro! $&ns to highly obsc&re scholarly re'erences:and it encom$asses a vast array o' h&man emotion:'rom tragic to comic) None o' these elements come thro&gh as e''ectively on screen as they do in the book itsel')

Plot

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2n the novel8s 'ore!ord the 'ictional +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-) e($lains the strange story that !ill 'ollo!) ;ccording to ,ay he received the man&scri$t entitled Lolita, or the on!ession o! a White Wido"ed Male 'rom the a&thor8s la!yer) *he a&thor himsel'

kno!n by the $se&donym o' %&mbert %&mbert Eor %) %)F died in /ail o' coronary thrombosis !hile a!aiting a trial) ,ay asserts that !hile the a&thor8s actions are des$icable his !riting remains bea&ti'&l and $ers&asive) %e also indicates that the novel !ill become a 'avorite in $sychiatric circles as !ell as enco&rage $arents to raise better children in a better !orld) 2n the man&scri$t %&mbert relates his $eace'&l &$bringing on the ,iviera !here he enco&nters his 'irst love the t!elveCyearCold ;nnabel Leigh) ;nnabel and the thirteenCyearCold %&mbert never cons&mmate their love and ;nnabel8s death 'rom ty$h&s 'o&r months later ha&nts %&mbert) ;ltho&gh %&mbert goes on to a career as a teacher o' English literat&re he s$ends time in a mental instit&tion and !orks a s&ccession o' odd /obs) -es$ite his marriage to an ad&lt !oman !hich event&ally 'ails %&mbert remains obsessed !ith se(&ally desirable and se(&ally a!are yo&ng girls) *hese nym$hets as he calls them remind him o' ;nnabel tho&gh he 'ails to 'ind another like her) Event&ally %&mbert comes to the 5nited 3tates and takes a room in the ho&se o' !ido! 6harlotte %a.e in a slee$y s&b&rban Ne! England to!n) %e becomes instantly in'at&ated !ith her t!elveCyearCold da&ghter -olores also kno!n as Lolita) %&mbert 'ollo!s Lolita8s moves constantly occasionally 'lirts !ith her and con'ides his $edo$hiliac longings to a /o&rnal) Gean!hile 6harlotte %a.e !hom %&mbert loathes has 'allen in love !ith him) Bhen 6harlotte sends Lolita o'' to s&mmer cam$ %&mbert marries 6harlotte in order to stay near his tr&e love) %&mbert !ants to be alone !ith Lolita and even toys !ith the idea o' killing 6harlotte b&t he can8t go thro&gh !ith it) %o!ever 6harlotte 'inds his diary and a'ter learning that he hates her b&t loves her da&ghter con'ronts him) %&mbert denies everything b&t 6harlotte tells him she is leaving him and storms o&t o' the ho&se) ;t that moment a car hits her and she dies instantly) %&mbert goes to the s&mmer cam$ and $icks &$ Lolita) #nly !hen they arrive at a motel does he tell her that 6harlotte has died) 2n his acco&nt o' events %&mbert claims that Lolita sed&ces him rather than the other !ay aro&nd) *he t!o drive across the co&ntry 'or nearly a year d&ring !hich time %&mbert becomes increasingly obsessed !ith Lolita and she learns to mani$&late him) Bhen she engages in tantr&ms or re'&ses his advances %&mbert threatens to $&t her in an or$hanage) ;t the same time a strange man seems to take an interest in %&mbert and Lolita and a$$ears to be 'ollo!ing them in their travels) %&mbert event&ally gets a /ob at 9eardsley 6ollege some!here in the Northeast and Lolita enrolls in school) %er !ish to sociali.e !ith boys her o!n age ca&ses a strain in their relationshi$ and %&mbert becomes more restrictive in his r&les) Nonetheless he allo!s her to a$$ear in a school $lay) Lolita begins to behave secretively aro&nd %&mbert and he acc&ses her o' being &n'aith'&l and takes her a!ay on another road tri$) #n the road %&mbert s&s$ects that they are being 'ollo!ed) Lolita doesn8t notice anything and %&mbert acc&ses her o' cons$iring !ith their stalker) Lolita becomes ill and %&mbert m&st take her to the hos$ital) %o!ever !hen %&mbert ret&rns to get her the n&rses tell him that her &ncle has already $icked her &$) %&mbert 'lies into a rage b&t then he calms himsel' and leaves the hos$ital heartbroken and angry)

4or the ne(t t!o years %&mbert searches 'or Lolita &nearthing cl&es abo&t her kidna$$er in order to e(act his revenge) %e hal'heartedly takes &$ !ith a !oman named ,ita b&t then he receives a note 'rom Lolita no! married and $regnant asking 'or money) ;ss&ming that Lolita has married the man !ho had 'ollo!ed them on their travels %&mbert becomes determined to kill him) %e 'inds Lolita $oor and $regnant at seventeen) %&mbert reali.es that Lolita8s h&sband is not the man !ho kidna$$ed her 'rom the hos$ital) Bhen $ressed Lolita admits that 6lare 7&ilty a $lay!right !hose $resence has been 'elt 'rom the beginning o' the book had taken her 'rom the hos$ital) Lolita loved 7&ilty b&t he kicked her o&t !hen she re'&sed to $artici$ate in a child $ornogra$hy orgy) 3till devoted to Lolita %&mbert begs her to ret&rn to him) Lolita gently re'&ses) %&mbert gives her 4 AAA dollars and then de$arts) %e tracks do!n 7&ilty at his ho&se and shoots him m&lti$le times killing him) %&mbert is arrested and $&t in /ail !here he contin&es to !rite his memoir sti$&lating that it can only be $&blished &$on Lolita8s death) ;'ter Lolita dies in childbirth %&mbert dies o' heart 'ail&re and the man&scri$t is sent to +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-)

Character !ist
"umbert "umbert C *he narrator and $rotagonist o' Lolita) %&mbert is an er&dite E&ro$ean intellect&al !ith an obsessive love 'or nym$hets and a history o' mental illness) %e manages to sed&ce the reader !ith his gi't 'or bea&ti'&l lang&age b&t he is nonetheless ca$able o' ra$e and m&rder) %&mbert des$ite his kno!ledge o' the !orld becomes sel'Ca!are only to!ard the end o' the novel !hen he reali.es he has r&ined Lolita8s childhood) %e !rites the story o' Lolita 'rom his $rison cell !here he a!aits trial 'or m&rder) %o!ever he dies o' heart 'ail&re soon a'ter Lolita8s death) ,ead an inCde$th analysis o' %&mbert %&mbert) #olores (!olita) "a$e C *he novel8s e$onymo&s nym$het) ;n adolescent she is sed&ctive 'lirtatio&s and ca$ricio&s and she initially 'inds hersel' attracted to %&mbert com$eting !ith her mother 'or his a''ections) %o!ever !hen his demands become more $ressing and as she s$ends more time !ith children her o!n age she begins to tire o' him) %&mbert attem$ts to ed&cate her b&t she remains attached to ;merican $o$&lar c&lt&re and &nim$ressed !ith his c&lt&red ideas) Event&ally she r&ns o'' !ith 6lare 7&ilty b&t he abandons her a'ter she re'&ses to $artici$ate in child $ornogra$hy) 3he event&ally marries -ick 3chiller and dies in childbirth) Clare %uilty C %&mbert8s shado! and do&ble) 7&ilty is a s&ccess'&l $lay!right and child $ornogra$her !ho takes a liking to Lolita 'rom an early age) %e 'ollo!s her thro&gho&t the story &ltimately kidna$$ing her a!ay 'rom %&mbert) *ho&gh Lolita is in love !ith him he event&ally tires o' her) Nabokov conceals 7&ilty8s im$ortance to the story &ntil nearly the end) 7&ilty is amoral highly literate and com$letely corr&$t) Charlotte "a$e C Lolita8s mother and %&mbert8s !i'e) ; middleCclass !oman !ho as$ires to be c&lt&red and so$histicated 6harlotte never manages to be m&ch more than a bo&rgeois ho&se!i'e) %er relationshi$ !ith Lolita is strained thro&gho&t the novel) 6harlotte !orshi$s %&mbert and stays blind to his $edo$hilia and l&st 'or her da&ghter &ntil she discovers his diary) 3he dies soon a'ter in a car accident) &nnabel !eigh C %&mbert8s childhood love) ;nnabel and her 'amily visit %&mbert8s 'ather8s hotel as to&rists) -es$ite having many $hysical enco&nters %&mbert and

;nnabel are &nable to cons&mmate their adolescent love) 3he later dies o' ty$h&s in 6or'&) %&mbert remains obsessed !ith her memory &ntil he meets Lolita) 'aleria C %&mbert8s 'irst !i'e !hom he married to c&re himsel' o' his addiction to nym$hets) %&mbert 'inds Valeria intellect&ally in'erior and o'ten b&llies her) Bhen he $lans to move to ;merica Valeria leaves him to marry a ,&ssian ta(i driver) Valeria and her h&sband die in 6ali'ornia years later) (ean Farlow C ; 'riend o' 6harlotte8s and the !i'e o' +ohn 4arlo!) +ohn and +ean 4arlo! are among 6harlotte and %&mbert8s 'e! 'riends) ;'ter 6harlotte8s death she secretly kisses %&mbert) 3he event&ally dies o' cancer) (ohn Farlow C ; 'riend o' 6harlotte8s married to +ean) %e handles the %a.e estate a'ter 6harlotte dies b&t he event&ally relegates his d&ties to a la!yer beca&se o' the com$licated nat&re o' the case) ;'ter +ean dies he marries someone else and lives an advent&ro&s li'e in 3o&th ;merica) #ick )chiller C Lolita8s h&sband) -ick is a sim$le goodCnat&red !orking man !ho is dea' in one ear -ick has no idea abo&t the se(&al relationshi$ bet!een %&mbert and Lolita believing %&mbert to sim$ly be Lolita8s 'ather) -ick receives a /ob o''er in ;laska !here he $lans to take Lolita !hom he calls -olly) *ita C ;n alcoholic !hom %&mbert lives !ith a'ter he loses Lolita) *o!ard the end o' their a''air ,ita has many enco&nters !ith the la! and becomes $aranoid that %&mbert !ill leave her) %&mbert 'inds her com'orting b&t regards her as sim$leC minded) +ona C Lolita8s 'avorite 'riend at the 9eardsley 3chool 'or @irls) Gona has already had an a''air !ith a marine and a$$ears to be 'lirting !ith %&mbert) %o!ever she re'&ses to div&lge any o' Lolita8s secrets) 3he hel$s Lolita lie to %&mbert !hen %&mbert discovers that Lolita has been missing her $iano lessons) ,aston ,rodin C ; $l&m$ beloved 4rench $ro'essor at 9eardsley 6ollege) @aston is $o$&lar in the comm&nity and hel$s %&mbert 'ind his ho&se and settle into 9eardsley) *hey o'ten $lay chess together b&t %&mbert thinks him a $oor scholar and not very smart) @aston also has a $redilection 'or yo&ng boys !hich no one in 9eardsley seems to notice) +rs- Pratt C *he headmistress o' the 9eardsley 3chool 'or @irls) %&mbert is &nim$ressed !ith Pratt8s em$hasis on social skills and her resistance to traditional academic a$$roaches) 3he calls %&mbert to her o''ice to disc&ss Lolita8s disci$linary $roblems and e($resses concern that Lolita is not develo$ing se(&ally) .vor %uilty C 6lare 7&ilty8s &ncle a dentist) -reamy and !ell liked he thinks o' his ne$he! !ith kind ind&lgence) %e has been 'riends !ith the %a.e 'amily all his li'e) %&mbert 'inds 6lare 7&ilty by visiting 2vor at his o''ice) +oni/ue C ; 4rench nym$het $rostit&te) 2nitially %&mbert is attracted to her nym$het <&alities and begins an a''air !ith her) %o!ever he becomes disill&sioned by her mat&ration and abr&$tly ends the a''air) (ohn *ay0 (r-0 Ph-#- C *he a&thor o' the 'ore!ord and the editor o' %&mbert8s memoir) )hirley "olmes C Lolita8s s&mmerCcam$ director) Charlie C 3hirley %olmes8s son !ho also !orks at the cam$) Lolita has her 'irst se(&al e($eriences !ith him b&t she is &nim$ressed by his manners) Later %&mbert discovers that he has been killed in Horea) 1arbara C Lolita8s 'riend at cam$) 9arbara has se( !ith 6harlie in the b&shes !hile Lolita stands g&ard) 4inally 9arbara convinces Lolita to Itry it J !hich she does) 'ivian #arkbloom C 6lare 7&ilty8s 'emale !riting $artner) Lolita con'&ses %&mbert by telling him that Vivian is a man and 6lare is a !oman) ;'ter 7&ilty8s death Vivian

!rites 7&ilty8s biogra$hy) IVivian -arkbloomJ is an anagram 'or IVladimir Nabokov)J (ohn ((ack) 2indmuller C *he la!yer to !hom +ohn 4arlo! entr&sts the %a.e estate) %e handles the estate b&t !ants nothing to do !ith the sordidness s&rro&nding the im$ending trial) Frederick 1eale0 (r- C *he driver o' the car that kills 6harlotte)

"umbert "umbert
%&mbert %&mbert &ses lang&age to sed&ce the readers o' his memoir and he almost s&cceeds in making himsel' a sym$athetic $edo$hile) %e critici.es the v&lgarity o' ;merican c&lt&re establishing himsel' as an intellect&al) %is ironic sel'Cmocking tone and his com$licated !ord games divert readers8 attention 'rom the horrors he describes) %is skill !ith lang&age makes him a $ers&asive narrator o'ten able to convince readers to see his $ers$ective) *hese ling&istic skills along !ith his disting&ished a$$earance er&dition and E&ro$ean roots enable him to sed&ce the !omen aro&nd him as !ell) %&mbert has never !anted 'or love) ;s a yo&ng boy %&mbert embarks on a shortClived &ncons&mmated and &ltimately tragic romance !ith ;nnabel Leigh a Inym$hetJ Ea $re$&bescent girl bet!een the ages o' abo&t nine and 'o&rteenF)) 3ince then he has been obsessed !ith the $artic&lar ty$e o' girl ;nnabel re$resents) %e marries ad&lt !omen in an e''ort to overcome his craving 'or nym$hets b&t the marriages al!ays dissolve and the longings remain) -es$ite his 'ailed marriages his mental $roblems and his s$oradic em$loyment %&mbert still attracts attention consistently 'rom the o$$osite se( tho&gh he &s&ally disdains this attention) %e claims to have loved only Lolita and his obsession event&ally cons&mes him) %&mbert is a com$letely &nreliable narrator and his myo$ic sel'Cdel&sion and need 'or sym$athy make many o' his statements s&s$ect) %e claims Lolita sed&ced him and that she !as in com$lete control o' the relationshi$) %o!ever %&mbert as the ad&lt clearly has the &$$er hand) %e controls the money and Lolita8s 'reedom and he o'ten re$eats that Lolita has no!here to go i' she leaves him) Bhen Lolita occasionally shrinks 'rom his to&ch he vie!s her rel&ctance as an e(am$le o' her merc&rial nat&re rather than as a child8s re$&lsion at an ad&lt8s se(&al advances) %&mbert claims that his 'eelings 'or Lolita are rooted in love not l&st b&t his sel'Cdel&sion $revents him 'rom making this case convincingly) ;lternately slavish and domineering %&mbert has little control over his 'eelings and im$&lses) %e never considers the morality o' his actions and he re'&ses to ackno!ledge that Lolita may not share his 'eelings) ;s his relationshi$ !ith Lolita deteriorates %&mbert becomes more and more controlling o' her and less and less in control o' himsel') %e considers 7&ilty8s love 'or Lolita deviant and corr&$ting and he m&rders 7&ilty to avenge Lolita8s lost innocence a seemingly drastic act o' denial o' his o!n com$licity in that loss) #nly near the end o' the novel !hen he admits that he himsel' stole Lolita8s childhood does %&mbert allo! the tr&th to break thro&gh his soli$sism)

!olita
;ltho&gh the name Lolita has become synonymo&s !ith &nderage se($ot Nabokov8s Lolita is sim$ly a st&bborn child) 3he is neither very bea&ti'&l nor $artic&larly

charming and %&mbert o'ten remarks on her skinny arms 'reckles v&lgar lang&age and &nladylike behavior) Lolita attracts the de$raved %&mbert not beca&se she is $recocio&s or bea&ti'&l b&t beca&se she is a nym$het %&mbert8s ideal combination o' childishness and the 'irst bl&shes o' !omanhood) *o non$edo$hiles Lolita !o&ld be a rather ordinary t!elveCyearCold girl) %er ordinariness is a constant so&rce o' 'r&stration 'or %&mbert and she consistently th!arts his attem$ts to ed&cate her and make her more so$histicated) 3he adores $o$&lar c&lt&re en/oys mingling 'reely !ith other $eo$le and like most $re$&bescent girls has a tendency to!ard the dramatic) %o!ever !hen she sho&ts and rebels against %&mbert she e(hibits more than the 'r&stration o' an ordinary adolescent= sheclearly 'eels tra$$ed by her arrangement !ith %&mbert b&t she is $o!erless to e(tricate hersel') Lolita changes radically thro&gho&t the novel des$ite aging only abo&t si( years) ;t the beginning she is an innocent tho&gh se(&ally e($erienced child o' t!elve) %&mbert 'orces her transition into a more '&lly se(&al being b&t she never seems to ackno!ledge that her se(&al activities !ith %&mbert are very di''erent 'rom her 'ooling aro&nd !ith 6harlie in the b&shes at s&mmer cam$) 9y the end o' the novel she has become a !ornCo&t $regnant !i'e o' a laborer) *hro&gho&t her li'e Lolita s&stains an almost com$lete lack o' sel'Ca!areness) ;s an ad&lt she recollects her time !ith %&mbert dis$assionately and doesn8t seem to hold a gr&dge against either him or 7&ilty 'or r&ining her childhood) %er attit&de s&ggests that as a child she had nothing 'or them to steal nothing im$ortant eno&gh to val&e) %er re'&sal to look too dee$ly !ithin hersel' and her tendency to look 'or!ard rather than back!ard might re$resent ty$ically ;merican traits b&t %&mbert also deserves $art o' the blame) %&mbert ob/ecti'ies Lolita and he robs her o' any sense o' sel') Lolita e(ists only as the ob/ect o' his obsession never as an individ&al) *he lack o' sel'Ca!areness in a child is ty$ical and o'ten charming) 2n the ad&lt Lolita the absence o' sel'Ca!areness seems tragic)

Clare %uilty
Gysterio&s mani$&lative and &tterly corr&$t 7&ilty is %&mbert8s do$$elgKnger) %e serves as a kind o' mirror image o' %&mbert re'lecting similar traits and tho&ghts b&t embodying a darker side o' those characteristics that %&mbert stridently disavo!s) 7&ilty and %&mbert both adore nym$hets b&t they act on their adoration in very di''erent !ays) Bhile %&mbert slavishly !orshi$s and ideali.es Lolita 7&ilty takes her 'or granted and !ishes to denigrate her thro&gh $ornogra$hy) %&mbert $aints himsel' as a man in love !hile 7&ilty is in many !ays a more ty$ical $edo$hile) 9oth 7&ilty and %&mbert are men o' letters !ell read and very $ers&asive b&t 7&ilty has a m&ch more s&ccess'&l career) 7&ilty is also 'ar less s&btle than %&mbert abo&t his nym$het obsession) 7&ilty8s $ro'essional s&ccess and re$&tation $erha$s allo! him to get a!ay !ith his deviant behavior tho&gh he is !ell kno!n 'or his $redilection 'or yo&ng girls and has already 'aced charges) ;t his 'inal enco&nter !ith %&mbert 7&ilty8s baro<&e s$eech cavalier attit&de and $ersistent gameC$laying im$ly that he like %&mbert is not <&ite sane) %e dies in the middle o' an attem$t to bribe %&mbert !ith a variety o' $erverse $leas&res) Physically 7&ilty a$$ears in're<&ently in the novel b&t his $resence asserts itsel' thro&gh a relentless series o' hidden cl&es) *hese cl&es !hich incl&de initials $lace

names titles and many other re'erences and s&ggestions b&ild and intensi'y creating a dense clo&d above the act&al story that event&ally b&rsts !hen Lolita identi'ies 7&ilty as her lover) *he cl&es rein'orce the idea that 7&ilty is %&mbert8s do&ble since he e(ists more as a shado! than as a living h&man being) *hat Lolita adores the intangible 7&ilty and remains &nmoved by solid $resent %&mbert re$resents one o' the novel8s cr&eler t!ists and s&ggests that Lolita may indeed have had her eye on a '&t&re o&tside o' %&mbert8s control)

Charlotte "a$e
; ty$ical middleCclass middleCaged ;merican !oman 6harlotte %a.e as$ires to so$histication and E&ro$ean elegance b&t her attem$ts 'all comically 'lat) 3he is religio&s and not $artic&larly imaginative) 6harlotte sees %&mbert as the e$itome o' the !orldC!eary E&ro$ean lover o':and in:grand literat&re) %e re$resents her chance to become the !oman she dreams o' being b&t her v&lgar sel'Cconscio&s stabs at so$histication s&ch as her tendency to dro$ celebrity names and mis$rono&nce 4rench $hrases make %&mbert cringe) %&mbert &s&ally re'ers to her derisively as Gama or the %a.e !oman) 6harlotte8s love letter to %&mbert tra''ics mainly in sel'C$itying martyrdom and melodramatic gest&res) Nabokov $ortrays 6harlotte !ith so little sym$athy that the tragic elements o' her character almost disa$$ear) 3he dies a'ter all kno!ing that the man she loves l&sts a'ter her o!n da&ghter) 6harlotte is not $artic&larly 'ond o' Lolita) ;ltho&gh Lolita8s adolescent tantr&ms certainly don8t make her a very likeable child 6harlotte8s distain signals a greater lack o' motherly concern than normal) 6harlotte seems to see Lolita as a threat almost as com$etition and she sends Lolita to cam$ to kee$ her 'rom hindering her romantic $lans 'or %&mbert) %&mbert o' co&rse sees 6harlotte only as an obstacle to his romantic $lans 'or Lolita) *ho&gh 6harlotte is not an overtly kind and !onder'&l mother her $resence does $rotect Lolita:!hen 6harlotte dies %&mbert is 'ree to kidna$ Lolita and change her li'e 'orever)

3hemes0 +otifs 4 )ymbols

3hemes
*hemes are the '&ndamental and o'ten &niversal ideas e($lored in a literary !ork)

The Power of Language

Nabokov revered !ords and believed that the $ro$er lang&age co&ld elevate any material to the level o' art) 2n Lolita lang&age e''ectively tri&m$hs over shocking content and gives it shades o' bea&ty that $erha$s it does not deserve) Lolita is 'illed !ith sordid s&b/ects incl&ding ra$e m&rder $edo$hilia and incest) %o!ever %&mbert %&mbert in telling his story &ses $&ns literary all&sions and re$eating ling&istic $atterns to render this dark tale in an enchanting 'orm) 2n this !ay %&mbert sed&ces his readers as '&lly and slyly as he sed&ces Lolita hersel') Bords are his $o!er and he &ses them to distract con'&se and charm) %e is a $edo$hile and a m&rderer b&t he b&ilds &$ elaborate de'enses and e($lanations 'or his actions and his lang&age shields him 'rom /&dgment) Bith Lolita Nabokov8s &ltimate achievement

may be that he 'orces readers to be com$licit in %&mbert8s crimes) 2n order to &ncover the act&al story o' $edo$hilia ra$e and m&rder !ithin the te(t readers have to immerse themselves in %&mbert8s !ords and their shado!y meanings:and th&s they m&st enter %&mbert8s mind) 9y engaging so closely !ith %&mbert8s ling&istic trickery readers cannot hold him at a 'ar eno&gh distance to see him 'or the man he tr&ly is)

The Dispiriting Incompatibility of European and American Cultures

*hro&gho&t Lolita the interactions bet!een E&ro$ean and ;merican c&lt&res res&lt in $er$et&al mis&nderstandings and con'lict) 6harlotte %a.e an ;merican is dra!n to the so$histication and !orldliness o' %&mbert a E&ro$ean) 3he eagerly acce$ts %&mbert not so m&ch beca&se o' !ho he is b&t beca&se she is charmed by !hat she sees as the glamo&r and intellect o' %&mbert8s backgro&nd) %&mbert has no s&ch reverence 'or 6harlotte) %e o$enly mocks the s&$er'iciality and transience o' ;merican c&lt&re and he vie!s 6harlotte as nothing b&t a sim$leCminded ho&se!i'e) %o!ever he adores every one o' Lolita8s v&lgarities and chronicles every detail o' his to&r o' ;merica:he en/oys the $ossibilities 'or 'reedom along the o$en ;merican road) %e event&ally admits that he has de'iled the co&ntry rather than the other !ay aro&nd) *ho&gh %&mbert and Lolita develo$ their o!n version o' $eace as they travel together their &nion is clearly not based on &nderstanding or acce$tance) Lolita cannot com$rehend the de$th o' %&mbert8s devotion !hich he overtly links to art history and c&lt&re and %&mbert !ill never tr&ly recogni.e Lolita8s &n!illingness to let him so$histicate her) Event&ally Lolita leaves %&mbert 'or the ;merican 7&ilty !ho does not bore her !ith high c&lt&re or grand $assions)

The Inadequacy of Psychiatry

%&mbert8s $assion 'or Lolita de'ies easy $sychological analysis and thro&gho&t Lolita %&mbert mocks $sychiatry8s tendency to!ard sim$listic logical e($lanations) 2n the 'ore!ord to Lolita +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-) claims that %&mbert8s tale !ill be o' great interest to $sychiatry b&t thro&gho&t his memoir %&mbert does his best to discredit the entire 'ield o' st&dy hea$ing the most scorn on 4re&dian $sychology) 4or e(am$le he en/oys lying to the $sychiatrists at the sanitari&m) %e re$orts mockingly that Pratt the headmistress o' Lolita8s school diagnoses Lolita as se(&ally immat&re !holly &na!are that she act&ally has an overly active se( li'e !ith her ste$'ather) 9y &ndermining the a&thority and logic o' the $sychiatric 'ield Nabokov demands that readers vie! %&mbert as a &ni<&e and dee$ly 'la!ed h&man being b&t not an insane one) %&mbert '&rther th!arts e''orts o' scienti'ic categori.ation by constantly describing his 'eelings 'or Lolita as an enchantment or s$ell closer to magic than to science) %e tries to $rove that his love is not a mental disease b&t an enormo&s strange and &ncontrollable emotion that resists easy classi'ication) Nabokov himsel' !as dee$ly critical o' $sychiatry and Lolita is in a !ay an attack on the 'ield)

The Alienation Caused by Exile

%&mbert and Lolita are both e(iles and alienated 'rom the societies !ith !hich they are 'amiliar they 'ind themselves in ambig&o&s moral territory !here the old r&les seem not to a$$ly) %&mbert chooses e(ile and comes !illingly 'rom E&ro$e to ;merica !hile Lolita is 'orced into e(ile !hen 6harlotte dies) 3he becomes detached

'rom her 'amiliar comm&nity o' ,amsdale and goes on the road !ith %&mbert) *ogether they move constantly and belong to no single 'i(ed $lace) *he to&rists %&mbert and Lolita meet on the road are similarly transient belonging to a generic ;merica rather than to a s$eci'ic $lace) 2n o$en &n'amiliar territory %&mbert and Lolita 'orm their o!n set o' r&les !here normal se(&al and 'amilial relationshi$s become t!isted and corr&$t) 9oth %&mbert and Lolita have become so disconnected 'rom ordinary society that neither can '&lly recogni.e ho! morally de$raved their actions are) %&mbert cannot see his o!n monstrosity and Lolita sho!s only occasional a!areness o' hersel' o' a victim) *ho&gh %&mbert s!ee$s Lolita a!ay so that they can 'ind a meas&re o' 'reedom their e(ile &ltimately tra$s them) Lolita is bo&nd to %&mbert beca&se she has no!here else to go and tho&gh %&mbert dreams o' leaving ;merica !ith Lolita he event&ally acce$ts that he !ill stay in ;merica &ntil he dies) *ho&gh each o' them &ndergoes one 'inal e(ile Lolita to -ick 3chiller and %&mbert to $rison it is clear that they are 'irst and 'oremost e(iled 'rom their o!n selves an e(ile so total that they co&ld never ret&rn to their original $laces in the !orlds they once le't) E(ile in Lolita is tragic and $ermanent)

+otifs
Goti's are rec&rring str&ct&res contrasts or literary devices that can hel$ to develo$ and in'orm the te(t8s ma/or themes)

utterflies
2mages o' and re'erences to b&tter'lies and le$ido$terology the st&dy o' b&tter'lies and moths a$$ear thro&gho&t the novel em$hasi.ing not only the $hysical similarities bet!een the 'ragile insect and yo&ng Lolita b&t also the distant and clinical !ay in !hich %&mbert vie!s his lovely $rey) %e e''ectively st&dies ca$t&res and $ins them do!n destroying the very delicate living <&ality he so adores) Virt&ally every time %&mbert describes a nym$het he &ses s&ch terms as !rail !ragile supple silky or !airy#like all o' !hich co&ld /&st as easily describe b&tter'lies) Like b&tter'lies nym$hets are el&sive becoming ordinary teenagers in the blink o' an eye) Lolita in $artic&lar &ndergoes a signi'icant metamor$hosis changing 'rom innocent girlCchild to e(ha&sted !i'e and motherCtoCbe) Ne(t to s&ch delicate and merc&rial creat&res %&mbert becomes a!are o' his o!n monstrosity o'ten re'erring to himsel' as a l&mbering br&te)

Doubles
7&ilty is %&mbert8s do&ble in the novel and re$resents %&mbert8s darker side) %&mbert is evil in many !ays b&t 7&ilty is more evil and his $resence s&ggests that the line bet!een good and evil is bl&rred rather than distinct) %&mbert and 7&ilty seem near o$$osites 'or m&ch o' the novel) %&mbert adores and !orshi$s Lolita !hile 7&ilty &ses and &ltimately abandons her) %&mbert $resents his o!n 'eelings 'or Lolita as tender and 7&ilty8s as de$raved) %o!ever the men are more similar than di''erent) 9oth are ed&cated and literary) 9oth o' co&rse are $edo$hiles) %&mbert sees himsel' as the 'orce o' good avenging Lolita8s corr&$tion yet he himsel' originally robbed Lolita o' her innocence)

9y the end o' the novel %&mbert and 7&ilty become even more closely identi'ied !ith one another) Bhen %&mbert and Lolita $lay tennis one day %&mbert leaves to take a $hone call and 7&ilty sneaks in on the game to brie'ly become Lolita8s $artner) Lolita event&ally leaves %&mbert 'or 7&ilty b&t her ne! li'e is hardly an im$rovement) Bhen %&mbert 'inally con'ronts 7&ilty the men become one and the same as they str&ggle !ith each other) %&mbert describing their 'ight says IBe rolled over me) *hey rolled over him) Be rolled over &s)J %is /&mbled &se o' the 'irstC$erson and thirdC$erson $l&rals indicates that he and 7&ilty are no longer distinct 'rom one another) *he already bl&rred line bet!een the t!o men has no! disa$$eared entirely)

!ames
;lmost all the characters in Lolita engage in games) 3ometimes they consist o' innocent am&sement s&ch as !hen %&mbert tries to interest Lolita in tennis and dreams o' making her a tennis star) %&mbert also $lays many silly games !ith Lolita to get her attention and to kee$ her com$liant) *his sense o' $lay rein'orces the 'act that Lolita is still a child and that %&mbert m&st constantly entertain her) @ames also distract characters 'rom more serio&s iss&es and allo! them to hide sinister motives) %&mbert and @odin $lay chess so that they can $ass the time !itho&t revealing their tr&e selves) 7&ilty in $artic&lar $lays !ord games !ith his hotel aliases leaving $&..les 'or %&mbert to deci$her) *he characters $lay games to hide the 'eelings they cannot reveal to '&rther their o!n ends and to diss&ade those !ho seek to discover the tr&th incl&ding readers) *ho&gh the games start o&t as innoc&o&s and childlike they soon become deadly mani$&lations)

)ymbols
3ymbols are ob/ects characters 'ig&res or colors &sed to re$resent abstract ideas or conce$ts)

The Theater
*he theater becomes a symbol o' arti'ice and artistry in Lolita) %&mbert blames Lolita8s ne!'o&nd ability to lie on her e($erience in the school $lay) 7&ilty &ses the same school $lay to bring Lolita to him and Lolita is a!ed by the theater beca&se o' 7&ilty8s in'l&ence) *his is $artic&larly $oignant 'or %&mbert as he himsel' !as never able to interest Lolita in any artistic endeavors) 5ltimately Lolita itsel' can be seen as a marvel o' stagecra't= &sing lang&age theater re<&ires an a&dience to !illingly s&s$end its collective disbelie' in order to $lace themselves imaginatively in the !orld o' the $lay) Like a theater a&dience a reader may be a!are o' the cra't and arti'ice involved in the narrative8s constr&ction b&t he or she nonetheless becomes a !illing $artici$ant in the ill&sion) *his involvement takes on a darker tone 'or the reader o' Lolita as the 'orce o' Nabokov8s artistry manages to make an incest&o&s $edo$hile not only &nderstandable b&t also oddly sym$athetic)

Prison
Even tho&gh %&mbert !rites Lolita 'rom his $rison cell his con'inement begins long be'ore his m&rder o' 7&ilty) 4rom the moment he loses ;nnabel and reali.es that he

!orshi$s nym$hets %&mbert &nderstands that he is in a $rison o' his o!n making) %e kno!s that his $roclivities are 'orbidden by society so he m&st $&t 'orth a res$ectable 'aLade and hide his tr&e desires) Nabokov also &ses the conce$t o' the $rison meta$horically to symboli.e%&mbert8s secret sel') %&mbert is initially im$risoned by his secret love 'or nym$hets then by his love 'or Lolita) 9y the end o' the novel ho!ever %&mbert has com$letely 'lo&ted all o' society8s r&les and th&s esca$es 'rom his con'inement) ;t that moment tho&gh his body lang&ishes in a real $hysical $rison he 'inds himsel' 'ree o' the $rison o' res$ectability and can th&s reveal:and revel in:his tr&e sel' 'or the 'irst time) *he $rison $arado(ically becomes a symbol o' his $sychological 'reedom)

Foreword

)ummary
Britten by the 'ictional +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-) the 'ore!ord in'orms &s that the a&thor o' this man&scri$t entitled Lolita, or the on!ession o! a White Wido"ed Male died o' heart 'ail&re in 1951 !hile im$risoned and a!aiting trial) %e does not mention !hat the a&thor !as arrested 'or) *he a&thor8s la!yer 6) 6) 6lark contacted ,ay to edit and $ossibly $&blish the man&scri$t b&t only a'ter the death o' the title character) ,ay !ho had $revio&sly edited !orks on abnormal $sychology makes some changes to ens&re the anonymity o' the characters) %e states ho!ever that he had very little editing to do and the book is entirely the invention and creation o' the a&thor) %e 'eels that to change it '&rther !o&ld not be tr&e to the a&thor8s intent or to the richness o' the s&b/ect matter) ,ay states that !hile the story in the man&scri$t is entirely tr&e almost all names have been changed beca&se its sordid nat&re) *he e(ce$tion is the name Lolita !hich is the title character8s nickname Eher real name is -oloresF and too intert!ined !ith the tale to be changed) Lolita8s last name ho!ever has been changed to the $se&donym I%a.e)J *he a&thor had chosen his o!n $se&donym I%&mbert %&mbert)J ,ay notes that a diligent reader !o&ld be able to ascertain the events o' the novel by researching ne!s events in the 'all o' 1951) %e then s&mmari.es the 'ates o' vario&s characters in the novel incl&ding the death o' a Grs) ,ichard 3chiller) %e states that he received some con'irmatory details 'rom at least one $erson a Gr) IBindm&ller J !ho does not !ant his 'amily to be connected !ith the a&thor or his crimes in any !ay) ,ay admits that des$ite its lack o' 'o&rCletter !ords the book may be considered very o''ensive by some) Nonetheless he arg&es that to change the lang&age or !ording o' the novel !o&ld be to dil&te its essence and its sens&o&s detail) ,ay states that he 'inds %&mbert %&mbert8s actions re$rehensible and his o$inions l&dicro&s) %o!ever he nevertheless thinks that the a&thor manages to be very $ers&asive artic&late and seemingly sincere in his love 'or Lolita) @iven his backgro&nd as an editor o' $sychology ,ay $rovides some $sychological insight into the a&thor8s character) %e s&ggests that abo&t 11 $ercent o' the ad&lt male $o$&lation may share %&mbert8s condition and '&rther $osits the notion that !ith the hel$ o' a com$etent $sychoanalyst the tragedies in the novel might have been avoided) ,ay believes that this man&scri$t !ill become a classic in $sychiatric circles !here it !ill be read as a $ersonal st&dy o' abnormal behavior) 2t may also $rove to be a ca&tionary tale enco&raging $arents to be vigilant in the rearing o' their children)

&nalysis
*he title o' the man&scri$t clearly indicates that the story is a con'ession b&t the title also $rovides 'or the do&bling o' stories !ith its &se o' the !ord or) 3ince the a&thor died in /ail the reader may ass&me that he is con'essing to a crime) ,ay does not say !hat crime the a&thor is in /ail 'or b&t he does indicate that %&mbert is a $edo$hile) *he reader !ill later learn that %&mbert is in 'act being tried 'or m&rder rather than $edo$hilia) "et the con'ession concerns itsel' almost entirely !ith the $edo$hiliac a''air Eor love a''air as %&mbert arg&esF bet!een the I!ido!ed !hite maleJ and the title character Lolita) *he do&bling o' the title also indicates that more than one story !ill be told) 2ndeed the man&scri$t tells not only o' the con'ession o' the %&mbert b&t o' the strange li'e o' its nym$het character Lolita) 4inally the do&bling o' the title mimics the do&bling o' the a&thor8s $se&donym %&mbert %&mbert) Nabokov &ses the ling&istic $attern o' do&bled !ords and do&bled characters to s&ggest the $lay o' :and overla$ bet!een:o$$osites) ) ,ay8s assertion that the novel tells a tr&e story mocks the $o$&lar 'ascination !ith l&rid crimes and tabloid ne!s$a$er articles) Painstakingly ,ay comments on the 'ates o' many o' the characters) Even here Nabokov $lays games in order to kee$ the reader g&essing) *ho&gh ,ay admits that there is indeed a real Lolita he notably does not identi'y her 'ate d&ring this time) %e does ho!ever note the demise o' a Grs) ,ichard 4) 3chiller a $loy that !ill become clear to the reader only near the end o' the book) Nabokov also invites the reader to investigate the 'act&al events in ne!s$a$er archives b&t e($lains that those events !ill not $rovide the !hole story) *hro&gho&t the novel many characters !ill claim to be honest only to have &lterior motives and trick the reader as !ell as other characters) *he 'act&al tr&th is &ltimately less interesting than the manner in !hich that tr&th is reco&nted) 2n both his narrative voice and his $oint o' vie! the 'raming device o' +ohn ,ay +r) Ph)-) creates a $oint o' vie! distinct 'rom both %&mbert and Nabokov) ,ay re$resents the book8s 'irst reader and like him !e may have many contradictory res$onses to!ard Lolita) Bhile clearly disg&sted by %&mbert8s crimes ,ay nonetheless admires %&mbert8s literary skill and his honest $assion 'or Lolita) ,ay a believer in $sychology and an editor o' $sychological books does not re$resent Nabokov8s attit&de to!ard $sychology) Nabokov !as in real li'e an o&ts$oken critic o' $sychoanalysis and 4re&d and ,ay8s reliance on a $sychological e($lanation 'or %&mbert8s actions !ill soon seem comical as the story &n'olds) 4or Nabokov $sychology !as o'ten a sim$listic and r&dimentary e($lanation 'or com$le( h&man behavior) *ho&gh many characters $ay li$ service to $sychology thro&gho&t the novel sheer $sychological e($lanations soon $rove inade<&ate) 2n $artic&lar ,ay8s insistence that Lolita is a Ica&tionaryJ tale !ill a$$ear less like a valid analysis and more like a des$erate attem$t to /&sti'y his admiration 'or a man&scri$t o' s&ch ob/ectionable s&b/ect matter)