alexialamas

Nabokov's portrayal of the pedophile in this novel is quite sinister. The banality of evil is fully on display here as the protagonist Humbert takes us on a guided tour through his unholy obsessions. One of the more complete studies of fictional psychopathy I have ever read, this book is, I think, most unique in its portrayal of the main character as "almost normal". Almost, except for his unfortunate penchant for diddling little girls. A striking method of characterization in the novel is Nabokov's reliance on Humbert's absolute insistence of his "normality". How he completely rejects any censure but his own; and even that self-censure, like everything else in his life, is false and hollow. He experiences and notes the child's distress without any clear acknowlegement of his culpability - it is a brilliant dissection of self-absorption. One final note - the well-documented "tic" that many child molesters have; of being "more sensitive", "more intelligent", "more understanding" of the world than those who "don't get it" is herein on full display. Witness his unflattering descriptions of adult women in comparison to his objects of lust. Humbert's delusion is effectively one of complete selfishness. He deserves what he wants because he is who he is - no other reason need be given. And in the end - his inadequacy as a man transforms into an inadequacy as a human being as illustrated by the pathetic recounting of his almost botched, ridiculous revenge/murder plot. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys watching a character have a novel-length train wreck. (and I say that in a good way).

2022-10-15 06:40