communication breakdown

Book Review: Lolita (1954)

[ 8 / 10 ]

Lolita is a troubling and disturbing book on many levels, beyond the obvious reason of the subject matter. Nobody would expect a story about a pedophile to be a cheery and pleasant read. But the real trouble here is that the book is lyrical, beautiful, sincere, and utterly convincing. Vladimir Nabokov, a master of prose, does the seemingly impossible by writing a love story between man and girl that walks a fine line between condemnation and approval. He forces the reader to postpone the natural tendency to be revolted and instead seriously consider the characters' situation. To pair some of the most beautiful writing of our time with such a deep-seated taboo subject, and have the result be universally acclaimed, is surely one of the most impressive literary feats in recent memory.

The first order of business is to dispel a common myth: this is not a lewd and racy novel. I felt kinda strange reading this book immediately after finishing Portnoy's Complaint, given that both are well-known for their focus on various forms of sexual deviancy. But whereas the former was graphic and explicit, Lolita is utterly different - focusing almost entirely on emotional intimacy rather than physical lust. Sure, the primary focus of the novel are the efforts of a man to consummate a relationship with a pre-teen, but both the author (and by extension, his main character) are clear on the fact that the actual act of sex is secondary to the fulfillment of love. Sex is rarely discussed in the novel, and when addressed, it is in vague terms, which is at least partially due to the innocent age in which it was written.

Lolita is a strongly psychological work, focusing primarily on its main character, Humbert Humbert - a distinguished, well-spoken, strikingly handsome, and fundamentally deranged man. It is obvious from the beginning that he is writing the novel from prison, and he presents the story as his life's work, showing considerable pride and absolutely no remorse for his actions. Like any good psychological study, he begins by retelling critical events of his childhood, including a fateful relationship which framed the way he would see women forever. He then gives us the first glimpse of his warped mind, discussing at length the characteristics of what he refers to as a "nymphet". According to Humbert, certain girls in their preteen years assume an innocently seductive persona which he finds to be utterly irresistible. It is on this premise that he begins the tale of how he met and pursued his Lolita.

So what makes this story more than the reprehensible memoirs of a pedophile? Well, I wouldn't even be writing this if there weren't several such reasons. The first is that Humbert does not fit the stereotype associated with pedophilia. In fact, he is the exact opposite of the introverted reprobate that usually comes to mind. This is the easiest difference to swallow; after that, the reasons get much more complicated and disturbing. For example, there is the depth of feeling and sincerity in Humbert's emotions. Despite his inappropriate affection, there can be no doubt that he loves Lolita with unbelievable passion. It has been said that Lolita is "the only convincing love story of our century", and if you were to ignore the circumstances regarding the relationship and focus purely on the words and thoughts of Humbert, you will be tempted to agree.

Even more troublesome is the possibility that it is Lolita that seduces Humbert, and not vice versa. Nabokov never suggests this as an excuse for his narrator's behavior, but nonetheless it deviates from the traditional "man seduces unknowing child" undercurrent that usually runs through these kinds of stories. Lolita is not your typical pre-teenager; while she does exhibit a healthy amount of capriciousness and immaturity, she clearly has some sort of innate sexual awareness. For all of Humbert's composure and deviousness, he is constantly manipulated and confounded by a twelve-year-old girl who is obviously aware of what she's doing. There's a reason that this story introduced the term "lolita" into the English lexicon; she is such a distinctive and controversial character, the type of which had never been considered or acknowledged to possibly exist in the real world before Nabokov's novel.

All of this amounts to a perplexing and thought-provoking story. Lolita is a beautiful read; masterfully written with flowing language and a good dose of humor, too. Humbert is a likable and almost-sympathetic narrator. And it is a tragic love story, careening towards a terrible ending from the very outset. These things are the hallmarks of great and classic literature. But the addition of the adult-child dynamic has produced wild results, from outrage to acclaim. It is stories like this that are so important because they stand out as original, inspired works that challenge the reader. I guarantee you that, at some point while reading this novel, you will forget that Humbert is an older man and Lolita is a child. Then it will come flooding back to you in a wave of shame, afraid to admit to anyone that for even a moment the love story seemed legitimate. This is Nabokov's great accomplishment.