Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita First written in English and later translated into Russian, the 1955 publication of Lolita by Russian-American writer Vladimir Nabokov arouses great controversy even until today. This instant classic involves the protagonist Humbert Humbert and his confession in his obsession over a twelve-year-old girl Dolores Haze. His love for young girls, whom he calls “nymphets”, makes him one of the greatest villains in literary history, and the word “Lolita” becomes so well-known that it is later borrowed to suggest young girls who are sexually preconscious. Lolita is a successful literary accomplishment in that Nabokov delicately and precisely captures the subtlety of an obsessive mind, which no writer before has the courage to made narrative of.
In dealing with his morally challenging topic, Nabokov portrays the suffered soul of Humbert Humbert, who struggles between his desire and morality. Humbert’s candid disclosure of an unspeakable desire seizes the reader with huge interests even from the very beginning of the novel. The protagonist describes to the reader in detail his desire, its subject and his dilemma in procuring it. This honest confession, although may still repel some, wins over much sympathy from the readers. After all, who among us have not suffered from our own desire?
Humbert is weak, brave, impulsive and sentimental; he is the sole existence of “Id”; an example of impulsiveness. His tragedy lies in his failure to adapt to his “Ego”, where his conscience lies. Therefore, his self-destruction in the end seems inevitable, since he is too much deviated to ever return back to the track that follows social convention. The car drive in the final scene only quickens his misadventure to its end.
Nabokov’s tale is but an example of a misplaced hunger over an unsuitable object, the sufferings common to all. It reminds the reader of our secret desire, the unconscious wish, and our not trodden path. In the end it is not approval from readers that Humbert tries to arouse, but a kind of understanding, an awareness of our similar bondage and limitations as human beings. That we are all subject to different desires; that every joy and happiness is under conditioned, and that we can never be free, as long as we keep wanting.
In dealing with his morally challenging topic, Nabokov portrays the suffered soul of Humbert Humbert, who struggles between his desire and morality. Humbert’s candid disclosure of an unspeakable desire seizes the reader with huge interests even from the very beginning of the novel. The protagonist describes to the reader in detail his desire, its subject and his dilemma in procuring it. This honest confession, although may still repel some, wins over much sympathy from the readers. After all, who among us have not suffered from our own desire?
Humbert is weak, brave, impulsive and sentimental; he is the sole existence of “Id”; an example of impulsiveness. His tragedy lies in his failure to adapt to his “Ego”, where his conscience lies. Therefore, his self-destruction in the end seems inevitable, since he is too much deviated to ever return back to the track that follows social convention. The car drive in the final scene only quickens his misadventure to its end.
Nabokov’s tale is but an example of a misplaced hunger over an unsuitable object, the sufferings common to all. It reminds the reader of our secret desire, the unconscious wish, and our not trodden path. In the end it is not approval from readers that Humbert tries to arouse, but a kind of understanding, an awareness of our similar bondage and limitations as human beings. That we are all subject to different desires; that every joy and happiness is under conditioned, and that we can never be free, as long as we keep wanting.
Note: Lectures on Nabokov's Lolita can also be found on the website provided on the side.
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So, could we somehow be free through this passionately wanting?
ReplyDeleteWhen we are indulged in this wanting, we are free souls.
How's this? :P
Just a thought though.