American Culture and Vladimir Nabukov's "Lolita"

Essai , 2015 , 5 Pages , Note: 95.00

Didactique de l'Anglais - Littérature, Œuvres

This essay looks into the complex nature of the character of Humbert as well as the nature of American Culture in regards to Vladimir Nabukov's novel "Lolita".

Vladamir Nabokov’s novel "Lolita" is well known around the literary world as one of the most controversial and provocative novels of the twentieth century. It is also one of the Russian writer’s finest works despite its many negative criticisms and widespread banning. The book published in 1955, pushed the boundaries of what was deemed as socially acceptable in a post war America and took a frightening look inside the mind of a pedophile. Many readers turned away from the book entirely because of its dark subject matter while others struggled finding any sort of meaning or literary value for the same reason. I would argue that this is an unfortunate occurrence primarily due to American Cultures inability to suspend their own moral convictions, even when it is necessary to do so. "Lolita" is a masterful work of literature that requires this suspension in order to fully appreciate its literary value.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Moral Dilemma of Lolita
• Humbert's Desire and Its Roots
• Humbert's Love and His Capacity for Change
• Beyond the Surface: Lolita's Complexity
• Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita, arguing that its literary value necessitates a temporary suspension of moral judgment. It aims to explore the complexities of the characters, particularly Humbert Humbert, and challenge conventional interpretations.

• The challenges of engaging with morally ambiguous narratives
• The nature of desire and its impact on human behavior
• The complex and often contradictory nature of human relationships
• The power of literature to provoke uncomfortable questions and challenge societal norms
• The importance of considering literary merit beyond surface-level judgment

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction highlights the controversial nature of Lolita and its enduring impact on society.
• The second chapter discusses the moral dilemma presented by the novel, arguing that the reader must be willing to suspend their own moral convictions to appreciate its literary merits.
• The third chapter delves into Humbert's internal struggles, exploring the origins and complexity of his desires.
• The fourth chapter presents a more nuanced interpretation of Humbert's character, arguing that he is capable of love and displays signs of remorse for his actions.
• The fifth chapter examines the complexities of Lolita's character, suggesting that she is not entirely innocent.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Key words and focus topics include: literary analysis, moral ambiguity, pedophilia, desire, love, guilt, redemption, character complexity, societal norms, and the suspension of moral judgment.

• Université: Fordham University (Rose Hill)
• Cours: Texts and Context: Banned Books
• Note: 95.00
• Auteur: Brad Sylvester (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2015
• Pages: 5
• N° de catalogue: V310815
• ISBN (ebook): 9783668100442
• ISBN (Livre): 9783668100459
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Lolita, American Culture, Humbert, English, Banned Books, Brad, Sylvester, Brad Sylvester