Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Analysis Essay

Vladimir Nabokovs choice of subject in his overbold Lolita shocked readers, solely that was essentially why he chose it. Beetz, states that Nabokovs prototypical inspiration for the novel came from a newsp impersonatorr story about an ape who after months of coaxing by a scientist, produced the first drawing of all time charcoaled by an animal this sketch showed the bars of the poor creatures cage Nabokov said. As many critics have remarked Lolita is not about perk up but about love. Even more it is about obsession-and the destructive spot it shtup hold over the lives of its victims.(Beetz 2481) Also temperh out the shock assess of Lolitas risque subject of the love story between a man and his twelve year old step daughter, the book closely likely would not have become as famous as it is. As Serafin states, Lolita became very popular underground after it was banned in Europe.The taboo of it being banned mixed with Nabokovs sparkling wit made Lolita a sensation.(338) As Hart says in the 1950s peoples attitudes towards hinge upon were still very puritanical and conservative.(158) By exploiting the scandalousness of the violation of the last versed taboo, the relationship between an adult and child, Nabokov was able to really show the issue of the power of infatuation, love and obsession. As Nabokov shows in his novel Humbert Humbert knows what he is doing to Lolita is wrong, but his burning desire for her drives him to violate his own morals. He even use morals to try and justify his actions, The moral sense in mortals is the certificate of indebtednessWe have to pay on mortal sense of beauty(Nabokov 300)In this quote Humbert dilutes him ego into thinking he has a moral obligation to value the beauty that is Lolita, when in reality he has a moral obligation to leave Lolita alone and allow her to have a normal childhood. some other quote in which Nabokov shows how Humberts obsession controls him is the following I felt up proud of myself. I had st olen the honey of a spasm without impairing the morals of a minor. Absolutely no harm done.(Nabokov 65) In this quote he is referring to pleasuring him self while near Lolita with out actually touching her.The very personality of his actions show his desperation and it soon become apparent that Humberts worm fantasies willing not satiate his obsession for long and that he will act on it and impair the morals of a minor. By using the shock to readers of a relationship between an adult and a child, Nabokov successfully was able to show the extent of what obsession and love can drive a person to do. Humberts obsession lead him to wear out the lives of himself, Clare Quilty and the childhood of Lolita. Nabokov choose his taboo subject for Lolita to increase the impact of the founts actions as driven by his own infatuation.