Monday, September 26, 2011

Solipsism of Lolita

“I entered a plane being where nothing mattered, save the infusion of joy brewed within my body. What had begun as a delicious distension of my innermost roots became a glowing tingle which now had reached the state of absolute security, confidence, and reliance not found elsewhere in conscious life. With the deep hot sweetness thus established and well on its way to ultimate convulsion, I felt I could slow down in order to prolong the glow. Lolita had been safely solipsized.” Pg. 60

Humbert sees Lolita as an object and often describes her nymphet qualities he finds so alluring while ignoring her inner hopes, dreams, and any other thought that seems to make her human as opposed to a sex doll. He notes when she is in a bad mood but mainly sees her as his remaining child-like, perverted connection to his lost love Annabel. Because this connection is unknown to anyone but Humbert, he sees her nymphet-ness as a treasure only he can understand and it is not something to be ashamed of. This objectification of Lolita stunts her inner growth or the chance to have a life. The object view of Lolita conflicts with his romantic view of her which is expressed through his use of complicated, yet beautiful word choice. His prose makes the repulsive appear beautiful by linking his perverted desires with elegant language. In this scene it is very obvious as he pleasures himself against Lolita unknowing to her. We are disturbed and horrified at the events that are corresponding and yet drawn in by the language.

Does the prose redeem the book? If the book was told from Lolita's point of view, what would she be thinking of Humbert Humbert? Would his romantics and intense passion be returned or would she be terrified by his inner thoughts, no matter how lovely the prose? What did Hubert mean by she had been "safely solipsized"?

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