Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Relationship of Humbert and Fate

As we continue reading Vladimir Nabokov’s novel Lolita, we continuously are made aware of how kind fate is to Humbert.  In every aspect of the novel we see fate.  From the beginning, fate brings Humbert and Lolita together.  When Humbert sees the sunglasses on the beach, he right away knows this is fate.  When Charlotte forces Humbert to marry him or leave, it is fate telling Humbert to stay for the fact of getting to be with Lolita more.
            Fate is evident in Humbert’s relationship with Charlotte.  In chapter 20, Humbert decides to not kill Charlotte and he later finds out Jean Farlow would have witnessed the entire scene.  This is fate saving Humbert from being caught as a murder.  Also, when Charlotte discovers Humbert’s obsession with Lolita, Charlotte is hit by a car and killed before she can mail out her three letters.  This action by fate allows Humbert to have Lolita all to himself.  Vladimir Nabokov constantly shows how kind fate is to Humbert, but we may sometimes read over the cruel actions fate has on Humbert.
            Fate is not always kind to Humbert.  We see every woman in Humbert’s life die.  From the age of 9, Annabel, his first true love dies.  Next comes his mother, who died in a lighting storm.  Finally Charlotte is killed when she is hit by a car.  This moves me to wonder what is going to happen to Lolita to continue this cruelty by fate.
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 9, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    I completely agree with you Brian. The term fate is constantly brought up again and again in class discussion, and I cannot help but wonder why fate is so good to Humbert in the first place. The wrong doings of Humbert Humbert need to be stopped immediately, but the interference of fate lets Humbert continue his sick ways. Why? Does Humbert really deserve to be with Lolita? I’m starting to change my opinion on Humbert, but not enough to understand why fate wants the two together. Their relationship still grosses me out.
    I do not believe that Humbert will kill Lolita. I understand that all the women in his life are dead, but maybe Lolita will be different. Fate has played such a huge role in getting Lolita and Humbert together; furthermore I do not believe that Lolita will die. I may be wrong, but as of now I’m convinced that Lolita will be saved by fate. Fate has had such a direct impact in the relationship that is growing between Humbert and Lolita; that is why I believe Humbert will not kill her. We will just have to see if fate will continue to be in their favor.

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  2. choulihanMay 10, 2013 at 2:07 PM

    I also agree that fate has been kind to Humbert at this point in the story, as multiple coincidences continue to bring Humbert and Lolita together. However, one must remember that he is writing this story from prison, and therefore fate will turn against Humbert at one point. Which begs the question what does Humbert do that causes fate to turn against him? Also who controls Humbert’s fate. Is it possible Humbert’s fate controlled by a supernatural being such as the devil or has he convinced himself of this. Humbert does mention in chapter 12 that the girl Aubrey Mcfate is the devil, drawing a connection between fate and Satan. If one analyzes the devils reasons for helping Humbert it is possible that the devil sees Humbert as an incubus demon, which was brought up in class earlier, and Satan wants to use Humbert to corrupt the “nymphets” he encounters.
    However, if this is true then why would fate turn against him while he is corrupting Lolita? What is unique about his relationship with Lolita that it will cause fate to turn against him and bring him to prison? I feel there is something about Lolita we may not know yet that will cause the destruction of Humbert’s relationship with fate.

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