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Now when I started reading I decided to do my first post on my initial reactions when I read the first 17 chapters. I know this is terrible but the way that Vladimir Nabokov writes makes us kind of ignore what is actually wrong. Obviously I had the initial reaction to thinking what is wrong with this man and how could this possibly happen?! But after reading I came up with some questions.
My first question is how in the world is Lolita not super creeped out about this man who is always around and is looking and being extremely creepy towards her? There are so many points in these chapters that make me so confused to how she is okay with this happening. Like everyone always thinks about him being the bad guy but how would she let this happen. I guess she is younger so she may not "know any better." But in my opinion this doesn't make complete sense to me but this may resolve itself.
Then I also realized that there are multiple occasions that we see that he feels shame for what he is doing. "This is all very interesting, and I daresay you see me already frothing at the mouth in a fit; but no, I am not" (Nabokov 19). He seems to have this sense that he knows that he is doing something wrong but doesn't really care but at the same time he seems to care a little bit and this is seen in the form of shame. He has such a strange perception on his life and what he is doing. "Which my huge hairy hand massaged" (Nabokov 60). I think it is just strange the way he perceives himself and the way that he describes himself. I think that it is just overall strange that he knows what he is doing wrong but he really just addresses that its weird but doesn't change anything. This has me wondering about the mental health of this man.
I am extremely excited to continue reading because I have so many questions that I want answered. I would like to know more about this relationship they have but also more about Vladimir Nabokov and his style of writing. I already see that the book is written in his perspective which makes it even creeper because you get his thoughts and his commentary which he somewhat justifies. I am excited to continue and to see how this will play out.
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ReplyDeleteHey Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your first blog post! As someone else who is reading Lolita, I experienced the same weird feelings of knowing something is wrong as you read the book, but at the same time, feeling as though it could be considered normal based on the way Nabokov writes it. As you said, he seems to justify his attractions and perceptions of love.
I really liked your comments on how Humbert views himself as large and hairy. I think that goes a long way to contributing to his character of hulking and frightening in comparison to the young girls he is attracted to. It's strange and abnormal, but you kind of get used to it, which is strange and abnormal in itself!
Do you think Humbert's attraction to nymphets will ever cease, or is it something that will always be with him?
Can't wait to keep reading the book and reacting to it with you!
Grace
Hi Lauren!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your blog. We had a lot of the same points in our initial reactions. To address your first question, I totally understand why it's strange that Lolita isn't "weirded out" by Humbert, but honestly, I think it's because he is such an intelligent, conscientious person. Like you said, he does have a certain amount of shame about his actions. He understands that they're wrong. Therefore, he masks his desires by acting like this kind man who just wants to get closer to her mother. I definitely agree that he is somewhat likable (at least in the way that he writes) but it's also becoming more and more difficult to trust him and not fear him. He is so clever and smart, and it's scary that he's somehow tricking the reader as well as the characters in the story.
Lauren, remember what we've discussed with first person narrators. Are you sure that you can trust Humbert as the narrator of the novel? Could his perceptions and descriptions of events be a bit off?
ReplyDeleteHi Lauren! I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts about the first quarter of the book. I had the same question about Lolita! It's strange to me that she's 12 years old since she is portrayed as if she is much younger in her actions and naivete. This might be a changing of the times situation, since 12-year-olds nowadays are more aware of the signs that someone is taking advantage of them, and I feel like they "grow up" much faster. Even still, it almost seems like she has feelings towards him with the kiss incident despite the fact that he is an adult stranger living in their home. I definitely think their relationship will be developed a lot more in the next quarter!
ReplyDelete