The Morality of Lolita

Loralei Hurlock

Lit & Media Studies

09.21.10

Lolita

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov is a novel from 1958 and is only one rendition of the novel. It's about a middle aged man, Humbert Humbert, who has a certain fascination with nymphets, his Lolita, and Dolores, or "Lo". The only reason that this is completely immoral, is due to their ages, usually dealing with mid teens and younger. Nabokov has admitted there's no morality to this novel and I completely agree. Not only can he mentally abuse these children, he can physically abuse them as well. On top of that, it's extremely illegal.

Morality is a choice. Humbert yearned for purity and true nature, something almost inhuman. For the majority, he did not act upon his desires. Only until Dolores came into the picture, did he obsess like so and be sexually driven by this nymph. He even explains his choice for what it's worth, [...] the number of true nymphets is strikingly inferior to that of provisionally plain, or just nice, or "cute," or even "sweet" and "attractive," ordinary girls, plumpish, formless, cold-skinned, essentially human little girls, with tummies and pigtails, who may or may not turn into adults of great beauty[...] (Nabokov p.?) This is completely immoral and he understands that, because he explains how he can manipulate situations and their decisions. [...] Talking fast, lagging behind my own breath, catching up with it, mimicking a sudden toothache to explain the breaks in my patterand all the while keeping a maniac's inner eye on my distant golden goal, I cautiously increased the magic friction that was doing away, in an illusional [...](Nabokov p 59). Society would definitely not approve of this and manipulation has never been encouraged.

Not only would Humberts actions go against the law (which they did), but also physical abuse is a large factor. Humbert is usually very delicate with his muse at the time, or Dolores, and uses a certain way of speech to lure in his 'prey'. [...] Every movement she made in the dappled sun plucked at the most secret and sensitive chord of my abject body. After a while she sat down next to me on the lower step of the back porch and began to pick up the pebbles between her feetpebbles, my God, then a curled bit of milk-bottle glass resembling a snarling lipand chuck them at a can. Ping. (Nabokov p.41). This tactic lures them in, not knowing that it can turn into any kind of abuse. Humbert isn't too violent of a man, except for one situation, with his wife of the time. [...] I demanded her lover's name. I repeated my question; but she kept up a burlesque babble, discoursing on her unhappiness with me and announcing plans for an immediate divorce. "Mais qui est-ce?" I shouted at last, striking her on the knee with my fist; and she, without even wincing, stared at me as if the answer were too simple for words. (Nabokov p.27) Although, this was a woman and not a child, any form of abuse is immoral. Furthermore, along with sexual and physical abuse, emotional abuse can be deteriorating to a child's childhood.

Obviously, if Humbert decided to persist, she would end up being a little different, but in Lolita, I feel her mother, Haze, causes her more emotional abuse than anyone else. Halfway through the book, Haze asked Humbert if he would like to come help her choose a gift for a friend and so they were about to leave and Lo joined, as well. "This is intolerable," began Haze; but Lo had scrambled in, shivering with glee. "Move your bottom, you," said Lo. "Lo!" cried Haze (sideglancing at me, hoping I would throw rude Lo out). "And behold," said Lo (not for the first time), as she jerked back, as I jerked back, as the car leapt forward. "It is intolerable," said Haze, violently getting into second, "that a child should be so ill-mannered. And so very persevering. When she knows she is unwanted. And needs a bath." (Nabokov p.50) This could do a lot of damage to someone emotionally, especially when Haze is supposed to take care of Lo, as her duty as a mother.

Lolita is a tragedy and comedy narrated by Humbert, a smart, good looking man. Humbert is a wonderful spirited person and will do anything to be near his Lola. Although, his suave attitude and offers seem romantic and sweet, it is completely and utterly immoral to do so with Lo, a sweet child. She wouldn't be able to grow up as she was naturally supposed to, both mentally and quite possibly physically. That is a lot of confusion to pour onto a young girl, especially his Lolita.