I do not know how
to interpret the motives behind the disturbed character of Humbert
Humbert. The uncomfortable feeling I
feel every time I open this book will never cease. I cannot understand how a man of late 30s can
love a girl as young as 12. Humbert
Humbert understands that his sexual thoughts about young girls are morally
wrong, but he does nothing to stop his urges. As we continue to read in class the vulgar
images continue to appear in my head.
Humbert’s obsession with his nymphets is what haunts my mind the most. Just the definition of a nymphet, and
Humbert’s openness to verbalizing his fantasies with these nymphets makes me
sick to my stomach. Humbert’s use of
sophisticated language casually masks his vulgar thoughts, and makes it hard
for us as readers to understand the deeper meaning. At the first read, Humbert sounds intelligent
and playful, but as we read deeper into the underneath layer we realize how
disturbed Humbert truly is.
Why is Humbert so
disturbed? What is the seduction of a
nymphet so exhilarating? Why is Humbert affected
by the thought of having sexual relations with a minor? I cannot bring myself to understand the sick
mind of Humbert Humbert. The sick, but
also intelligent, mind of Humbert constantly comes back to the simple pleasures
of young children. Humbert writes,
“Rope-skipping, hopscotch… Let them play around me forever. Never grow up”
(Nabokov 20-21). For such an intelligent
man, he focuses on silly games of children. Why? Is
this a way for Humbert to connect to his lost childhood? Or is he trying to he recreate the sexual
sensations he felt with his first “girl- child” Annabel? What do the references of childish games
really mean? I do not know what the
mentions of these games mean, but I believe that Humbert is trying to find a
young child who reminds him of his Annabel.
Even though years have passed since Annabel’s death, Humbert wants to regain
his childhood. Humbert wanting young
children to play around him is not only for his disgusting sexual fantasies, but
to help him never grow up. Humbert’s
childhood was ruined by his relationship with Annabel. Their young age combined with the adult act
of sex forced Humbert to grow up, and ruined his sense of reasonable
thinking. Humbert’s mind continues to disintegrate
as he finds more young girls like Annabel.
His pleasure only comes from young girls, because Annabel was the only
girl to please him. Humbert’s attempt at hiding secret messages behind his
intelligence will not make us forget that he will be nothing more than a
pedophile.
Shannon, I think you're hitting on some major points. I don't have much to contribute really. But I think your hitting on a nerve here that is definitely important. It's hard to get over what H.H is doing. But let's give Humbert the benefit of the doubt and imagine that these nymphets do exist. Might this allow some sympathy to be fostered for him. It certainly isn't for a lack of trying to be in a relationship (just look at the disaster with Valeria). I have read this book so many times and I go back and forth with his actions. Unfortunately, we're so early in the text that it is hard to argue with you, but maybe soon our feelings will change once we meet the little nymphet.
ReplyDeleteAs of now I have no sympathy for Humbert. I am too disturbed by what we have read, and I can not bring myself to feel bad for him. I will try to open myself up to acknowledge that Humbert is a destroyed man, but I am still too horrified by his thoughts of little girls. I do understand that I have not read the entire book, unlike you have, but I will try to stay open to understanding why Humbert Humbert is the way he is. I will just have to wait until I meet the mysterious nymphet herself.
DeleteI agree with you at this point that what Humber Humbert is doing is disturbing and wrong; however, I do not want to make the decision of whether or not I am against Humbert as of right now. Since we are early on in the novel I am trying to keep an open mind as to how he can think of and treat minors in the explicit way he does. I am hoping that as the novel goes on it will become clear as to Humbert’s reasons for his actions and I will be able to feel some sympathy towards him.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to his game imagery I believe Humbert is trying to keep himself in the mindset he had while he was with Annabel as a child. The time he spent with her was some of the best times he has ever had and I feel he cannot let those feelings go; therefore, he continues to think as the child he was when he was with Annabel.