Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0004691, Fri, 14 Jan 2000 13:48:36 -0800

Subject
Re: VN/Dostoevsky--rape of Lolita (fwd)
Date
Body
From: Jason Mical <unasoda@hotmail.com>

>Humbert claims he did not take the girl against her will, but at her
>invitation. Given her age, this is still a violation and a crime, but I was
>calling his account of her willingness into question. It seems to me there
>is no reason to take him at his word.

Recall that, by her own admission, Humbert was not her first lover. Not
that it redeems him, but it is a bit of evidence for the case that she was
willing in the lodge. I've always read it that way, especially the way she
uses sex to manipulate Humbert later on. She knew what she was doing;
beginning to reel him in.

Of course, she suffers the psychological effects of her decisions later in
the book, but that's another discussion.

Jason Mical
Drury University

PS - This is my first post to this discussion group. I've enjoyed reading
Nabokov, and am looking forward to some good discussions here.
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