Posted by Steven
on 18/4/2009, 9:14:32, in reply to "Re: Lolita "
76.187.98.74
Regarding Humbert's guilt, he says Lolita initiated their first love-making, that she had a crush on him, and that women in general were taken with his movie star good looks and Continental manners. But are we expected to believe any of that? Or has he only convinced himself that this is what happened? In any event, he was fully prepared to rape her in her sleep if the drug had worked as he expected.
At the time Nabokov was writing, pedophilia was not so much in the public mind as it is today. There were worse crimes, such as being a Communist or (in these parts) a Civil Rights activist. But now, there is nothing more vilified than a sexual predator. Many parents are so afraid of them that they won't let their children play outside the way we used to. I wonder (1) if Nabokov would have written Lolita in today's climate, and (2) to what degree Lolita is responsible for it.
--Previous Message--
:
: Perhaps I better clarify that I didn't mean to suggest
: that we let people like Humbert wander around. Whether
: he can help himself or not, other people must be
: protected. Also, I should have said I believe it's
: possible Lo threw herself at Humbert. It's hard to be
: certain of anything in this book.
:
: Also, I hope the example I used isn't offensive to
: anyone. I was just searching for an example of a
: pressing need it might be forbidden to satisfy.
:
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