“The moral sense in mortals is the duty
We have to pay on mortal sense of beauty”
The 1st impression of the book, about the protagonist
(Mr. H.H) being a pedophile, his desire and lust for young girls
(nymphets, in his nomenclature) gave me a sick feeling. I believe any
readers of this masterpiece must have got the same initial notion about
the book.
But this feeling disappeared as I advanced in my
journey through the leaflets of the book with Mr. Humbert Humbert. The
writing, the plot, the events looked so real, so lively that at time I
felt that I myself being a passive witness of the whole narration. I
probably myself got possesive about Lolita as I imbibed myself deep into
the wordings of the book. Mr. H.H will be called a sick person in any
civilized society, but his love (devoid of the lust) for Lolita, I'll
call truly eternal. Lolita appeared to be a mysterious girl/lady/woman
as any other women in this world. But authors portrayal of her was just
more than a normal humane child. Every minute details of the 1st and 2nd joyride across The States is incredible and as it appeared in the book, its just more than a travelogue.
As I finished reading the book, I wish Lolita was still well and doing good in her life post 1952, even if she exists only in the fictional world! From a feminist point of view, the novel smells of male chauvinism as the voice and feeling of Lolita, the girl, do not come out so well from the narration. But, as I see it, its not suppressed as well. Reader has to guess and imagine a mental image of her feelings and emotions, probably through her actions as depicted in the book!
An awesome and serious read, recommended to any adult who want to plunge themselves into an world of
lust, love, care, melancholy, possessiveness, hope ... If someone can survive the first 20% of the book, it will be difficult to put the book aside after that. Again, I truly disagree
with people calling "Lolita" an erotic novel! Lolita is far
more than just a literary chef-d'oeuvre.
However, I would like to echo the same as in the the book's forward by Widworth, Mass. John Ray, Jr..
As
a case history, "Lolita" will become, no doubt, a classic in
psychiatric circles. As a work of art, it transcends its expiatory
aspects; and still more important to us than scientific significance and
literary worth, is the ethical impact the book should have on the
serious reader; for in this poignant personal study there lurks a
general lesson; the wayward child, the egotistic mother, the panting
maniac-these are not only vivid characters in a unique story: they warn
us of dangerous trends; they point out potent evils. "Lolita" should
make all of us- parents, social workers, educators-apply ourselves with
still greater vigilance and vision to the task of bringing up a better
generation in a safer world.
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