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ENG 101

Character Evolution

October 18, 2018

Character Evolution

In the novel, “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov, the central character, Humbert, is presented, at least, as fragile and charismatic man. His encounter with Lolita is an astonishing revelation of his true character. With the author’s carefully choreographed presentation, the readers are coerced into sympathizing with him. The narrator, Humbert, carefully modifies his narration to suit him yet in the real sense he is far from a normal man. His greatest weakness is his complete obsession with young girls- “nymphets”, as he likes calling them. Lolita later in life became his pleasure toy and a final blow to his character. The character is controversial to say the least. With the author’s language mastery, the novel manages to paint the man’s true image (Rene, and Warren). He is haunted, manipulative and controversial all at once.

At a very tender age, Humbert decides it’s time to try his hand on romantic relationship with another young girl, Annabel Leigh. Ever since, he has been attracted and hooked to pretty young girls as Annabel. When he finally decides to marry an older woman charlotte, a widower, he soon finds himself in the same trap. His appetite for “nymphets” (girls of between ages nine a fourteen) is insatiable. He doesn’t stop there. He soon seduced the widow’s daughter and elopes with her. This is a clear indication of how he is constantly haunted by the memories of his damaged childhood.

Humbert is an absolutely manipulative narrator. His carefully staged choice of language begs for sympathy but in the real sense it is a manipulation tactic. When he chose to go a summer trip, he takes Lolita with him. In the trip, Humbert’s antics are revealed. He even goes an extra length and claims that Lolita seduced him. This is ironic to say the least even though Lolita was manipulative on her own. In his breathtaking narration, he tries to plead for sympathy from the readers while at the same time doesn’t accept that he had long deviated from the basic behaviors expected from a man of his caliber. The language is captivating but his actions are sickening.

He is a controversial man. Humbert has emerged as an intellect yet he is constantly plagued by trivial. From the novel it is clear he is a pedophile to say the least. As Nabokov (1955) puts it, Humbert in his narration says “It was something quite special, that feeling: an oppressive, hideous constraint as if I were with the small ghost of somebody I had just killed” p.129. This paints this man, who is thought to be learned, who doesn’t understand the limits when it comes to pursuing romantic relationships. The girl, Lolita, is relatively young and he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it. The way he blackmails her is horrific. His controversy is evident in the way he constantly contradicts himself while seeking to make the reader sympathize with him.

Conclusively, the protagonist is a product of his past experiences. At first the reader is tempted to sympathize with him but as the plot unravels, Humbert is revealed as just a crooked character. The way he tries to manipulate the reader is incredible in many ways. Even though he is haunted, it doesn’t give him permission to predate on underage girls. To summarize, it is clear that he controversial in many ways. The way he carries himself is disturbing given that he is learned and he is expected to behave despite his troubled past.

Work Cited

Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. Olympia Press. 1955.

Wellek, Rene, and Austin Warren. Theory of literature. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1956.