Vladimir Nabokov - Lolita IV

NABOKOV ONCE SPOKE OF HIS STUDENTS AS "The great fraternity of C-minus, backbone of the nation, steadily scribbling on." THE FOLLOWING SELECTIONS ARE FROM A BLOG I DISCOVERED, CREATED BY SOME WELL-MEANING PROFESSOR, TO DOCUMENT STUDENT RESPONSE IN A COLLEGE ENGLISH CLASS. LET US STEP INSIDE THE LECTURE THEATRE AND SEE THE FRUITS OF AN EDUCATION IN ENGLISH LITERATURE:

"After reading Lolita, I have come to a conclusion: Humbert Humbert is full of excuses. He acknowledges that his pedophilia is wrong. Rather than accepting his punishment, Humbert Humbert provides a series of excuses for his relationship with Lolita. As the jury, the readers must decide whether his excuses are the truth or the product of his defense. I believe that Humbert Humbert is an unreliable narrator, who uses excuses to defend his pedophilic thoughts and actions."


"Although one may find Humbert Humbert’s love for Lolita to be completely true and innocent, I believe otherwise."


"If Humbert Humbert 'loves' Lolita, than it is it excusable for him to try to control her."


"Throughout the whole novel, Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita contains the complicated concept of love and lust between Lolita and Humbert Humbert. However, in my opinion, Humbert Humbert and Lolita’s relationship leans more towards lust. Humbert Humbert may sound like he is a true lover, but after observing his past life style, he is a true pedophile."


"I, personally, do no not think that Humbert Humbert's act of giving Lolita sleeping pills is justified, but with a closer analysis, this act can be justified. Humbert Humbert gives Lolita these pills so he can molest her, and Lolita would have no knowledge of it. This can be considered a justified act because this shows that Humbert Humbert cares about the Lolita's sanity and well-being. Who knows what Lolita would think if Humbert Humbert forcefully rape her. Her behavior can show signs of insanity or she can experience unstable conditions. Humbert Humbert is looking out for her well-being by giving her the sleeping pills with the intent of raping her."


"Lolita would be considered as an immature teenager. She fell for Humbert Humbert’s superficial love and care. However, her actions prove that she is a child prostitute. The second part of the novel adds more negative image of Lolita. Her betrayal on Humbert Humbert was a tragic moment for Humbert Humbert, and Lolita was masked with an image of a heartless woman."


"If flirting is a form of seduction, than I do agree with Humbert supporters in the sense Lolita 'seduced' Humbert Humbert."


"At the conclusion of the novel, Humbert states the thought of a name 'And I have toyed with many pseudonyms for myself before I hit on a particularly apt one. There are many in my notes 'Otto Otto' and 'Mesmer Mesmer' and 'Lambert Lambert,' but for some reason I think my choice expressed the nastiness best' (Nabokov 308) ... It makes the reader wonder if Humbert is even Humbert's real name."


"I have come to realize that Humbert Humbert truly loves Lolita for who she is ... Although Lolita is pregnant with another man’s child, Humbert Humbert is willing to take Lolita and take care of her."


"Overall, I believe that Lolita remains powerful over Humbert. By receiving $4000 from Humbert and keeping her life the way it is, that shows that she has total control over him."


"People are judgmental and they will always remain that way. They believe that being gay or lesbian is wrong, that having sex with a brother or sister is wrong, or an adult having sex with a child is wrong. I believe that people should live their life and stop judging the lives of other people. Going back to the idea of pedophilia, if I were a man in my late 30’s, would I ever have sex with a young girl? No. Do I believe it is wrong for an adult to have sexual intercourse with a child who is willing to have sex with an adult? No. Right now, you may be saying in your head that I am disturbed or crazy, but think about it ... Lolita is a slut and she wants Humbert to fulfill her sexual desires.

Overall, I believe that pedophilia is not wrong if the child influences the adult to have sexual intercourse. If a child and adult both agree on having sex, leave them be. At the respectable age of 12, I believe that a child is old enough to make a decision to have sex with an adult just as Lolita made the decision to have sex with Humbert."


"Because French is a romance language, I believe Nabokov chose to write some words in French, because words in French sound more seductive than words in English when read aloud."


"Parents have a big impact on the way children are raised. Parents are the ones that instill morals and beliefs on their children. If parents do not lead their children by good examples, then who will? It is certain that society will not help to raise a child in the right direction. In today’s society, the youth is lured into unimportant notions brought on by the media. Our tragic flaw in society is that people make decisions without thinking about their actions. It is up to our parents to teach the youth about good morals and values that will raise the youth in the right path. And so I question, are parents raising their children wrong?"

MY POOR DEAR. THEY OUGHT TO HAVE STRANGLED YOU ALL AT BIRTH