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by Robin Sharma
Lolita summary
Vladimir Nabokov
Brief summary
Lolita is a controversial novel by Vladimir Nabokov. It tells the story of Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man obsessed with a young girl named Lolita. The book delves into the dark depths of obsession and explores the blurred boundaries between love and exploitation.
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Lolita
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The Allure of the Forbidden
In Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, the story opens with its complex protagonist, Humbert Humbert, developing an intense infatuation for a twelve-year-old girl, Lolita Haze. This unnatural attraction, ignited by a chance sighting at her mother Charlotte's home, where Humbert is renting a room, transports us into his skewed perception of love and morality. From a young age, Humbert developed a predilection for nymphets—girls on the cusp of adolescence—a result of a tragic, prematurely ended teenage romance.
When the lonely and unwitting Charlotte confesses her love for Humbert, he seizes the opportunity to stay close to Lolita by marrying her. Humbert's machinations grow darker as he plans to drug both mother and daughter to satiate his urges. But fate has different plans, and Charlotte dies in a road accident, leaving Lolita in Humbert's twisted custody.
A Perverted Road Trip
As the narrative of Lolita progresses, Humbert takes the orphaned Lolita on a diabolical road trip across the United States, masking their bizarre relationship. Through his sophisticated and humorous yet disturbing narration, we're sucked into his maelstrom of desperate love, lust, guilt, rationalization, and violence. Humbert's desires are fulfilled, while Lolita, naive and initially resistant, slowly evolves into a manipulative teen exploiting Humbert's obsession for her own benefits.
During their travels, Humbert starts to suspect a mysterious follower. On their second cross-country journey, Lolita disappears, leaving Humbert in despair, furiously hunting for his precious nymphet.
Reap What Humbert Sowed
The shifting plots of Lolita bring us to Lolita's reunion with Humbert after a two-year separation. Lolita has aged and grown unattractive, in Humbert's eyes, by the norms of his horrifying fetish. She's pregnant, married to a simple man named Richard, and in dire need of money. Humbert, who still loves her, offers to give her money, but on the condition that she reveals who abducted her two years ago.
With great reluctance, Lolita reveals that Clare Quilty—a playwright they met early in their travels—was the kidnapper. He had promised Lolita an acting career but had instead abused her and thrown her out when she denied participating in a perverse pornographic performance.
Humbert's Vengeance and Ruin
In the final stage of Lolita, consumed by a perverse sense of vengeance, Humbert tracks down and kills Quilty, vividly embracing his fate as both a murderer and a criminal of passion. Humbert, finding no redemption or expiation in his actions, surrenders to the police and later dies in prison.
In conclusion, Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita is an exploration of perverse lust, obsession, and manipulation, narrated through the poetic language of Humbert Humbert. The character of Lolita does not just represent a single underage girl but stands for all victims of adult manipulation and sexual abuse. Despite its controversial subject matter, the book stuns readers with its profound — albeit disturbing — exploration of the human psyche.
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What is Lolita about?
'Lolita' (1955) by Vladimir Nabokov is a controversial and thought-provoking novel that delves into the mind of Humbert Humbert, a middle-aged man obsessed with an underage girl named Lolita. Nabokov's elegant prose challenges readers to confront their discomfort and explore themes of morality, desire, and the darker aspects of human nature.
Who should read Lolita?
- Readers who enjoy diving into complex and controversial themes
- Individuals interested in exploring the depths of human psychology and desires
- Those who appreciate the artistry and masterful storytelling of Vladimir Nabokov
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