Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0022529, Sat, 3 Mar 2012 00:47:15 -0300

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Re: NABOKV-L] Nabokov and Twelve-Year-Old Girls ...
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Inspite of the importance of learning more about Nabokov's sources, I hesitate to conclude, with Fran Assa, that "VN did his research. Looks like HH clearly has the clinical marks of a standard pedophile."
In the first place, Humbert Humbert is not a clinical case, but a fictional character. Secondly, after H.Ellis's work there have been many other researches about pedophilia and, I think, one shouldn't be too categorical about what makes "the standard pedophile." In my opinion, if Humbert Humbert fits the bill as a pedophile or not, should make little difference when we try to evaluate what specific "pedophile" Humbert Humbert appears to have been.
For the curious, I recommend one of Joyce McDougall's books. In the internet I only found a reference to "Perversion," but I have another book in mind. I believe it's "Art and Perversion." and I'll look for more precise details soon.

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De: Nabokv-L
Para: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Enviada em: sexta-feira, 2 de março de 2012 23:27
Assunto: [NABOKV-L] NABOKV-L] Nabokov and Twelve-Year-Old Girls ...


EDNote--
This fascinating thread leads in many different directions, none of which currently has me thinking in conclusive terms. Fran Assa's post below reminds me of the value of reconsidering Nabokov's source in Havelock Ellis's work in its French edition, Etudes de Psychologie Sexuelle, VI, (Paris, 1926), which Edmund Wilson sent him in June 1948--very close to the time when he was beginning serious work on Lolita. See Dear Bunny, Dear Volodya p. 228 & 229n1.
~SB



Subject: RE: [NABOKV-L] Fw: [NABOKV-L] Nabokov and Twelve-Year-Old Girls ...
From: frances assa <franassa@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 2 Mar 2012 14:36:14 -0500
To: Vladimir Nabokov Forum <nabokv-l@listserv.ucsb.edu>

Pedophilia per Wikipedia: "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) outlines specific criteria for use in the diagnosis of this disorder. These include the presence of sexually arousing fantasies, behaviors or urges that involve some kind of sexual activity with a prepubescent child (age 13 or younger, though onset of puberty may vary) for six months or more, and that the subject has acted on these urges or suffers from distress as a result of having these feelings. The criteria also indicate that the subject should be 16 or older and that the child or children they fantasize about are at least five years younger than them, though ongoing sexual relationships between a 12-13 year old and a late adolescent are advised to be excluded...."
VN did his research. Looks like HH clearly has the clinical marks of a standard pedophile. The definition allows him to feel distress, which, I suppose, is inseparable from remorse.

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