Tower and Town, November 2021

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Lolita

I chose Vladimir Nabokov’s classic ‘Lolita’ as I was enticed by the controversy surrounding the novel, particularly in relation to the theme of love, and I was far from disappointed by my reading experience.

The public outrage surrounding ‘Lolita’ focuses primarily on the perceived ‘romanticisation’ of the paedophilic relationship between the thirty-something protagonist (Humbert Humbert) and his twelve-year-old step-daughter, Dolores (or Lolita). This outrage would be totally justified in my opinion if it were not a total interpretation of Nabokov’s purpose. By far the most interesting and challenging element of ‘Lolita’ is the perspective from which it is written and what the reader therefore gets to see. While the plot of the novel is taboo at best, it must be taken into account that Nabokov’s intention was to tell this perverse story from the point of the abuser; the prose is romantic because the reader is supposed to read between the lines and see that it is not a love story at all. It is a horror story.

Humbert is manipulating the reader and Nabokov’s intention was that they should ‘see through the cracks’ as it were. This was a unique and interesting device, that enriched the read hugely.

The prose itself was also a delight to read, speaking to Nabokov’s talents, considering that English was his fifth language. I had read Nabokov’s work before and I can earnestly say that I have never come across an author who is able to set tone and atmosphere so effectively. The immersive nature of ‘Lolita’, even within Nabokov’s work, is in a league of its own.

Jodie Harries, Year 12