2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

the relationship. Humbert states; “I am going to tell you something very strange: it was she who seduced me” (p150), as well as stressing Lolita’s dominance by phrasing ‘Okay, this is where we start’ (p151). The initiation on behalf of Dolores is extremely questionable through the eyes of the reader. Throughout pages 150-152 of the text in which Humbert speaks of the first time the two of them have sexual intercourse, the story is purely from his point of view. Thus, critics believe that Lolita’s recollection on this event would be extremely different from Humbert’s perspective. Humbert takes advantage of his position as the sole focaliser and presents himself in a more positive light regarding the immoral involvement with Dolores. Since Humbert’s account in this scene is extremely improbable, unrealistic and one-sided this gives the reader strong reason to question his reliability. This further highlights how Humbert has the power to manipulate and reword any event he wishes in order to manipulate the reader into sympathising for his actions and cause. This bias distracts the reader from understanding the true nature of events. Humbert is by no means a good man, yet through these justifications he illustrates an image of himself which garners sympathy from the reader. By using the power of words and perspective, the reader does not sympathise with the victim as much as they should. After all Dolores Haze was the victim whose childhood was snatched by a man, a victim of paedophilia, maybe even rape. Yet Humbert speaks of how he had no choice, he was caught up in a lustful game between him and his stubborn mistress. Regardless of his crimes, through the justification Humbert provides, Nabokov humanizes this character, critiquing the reader’s ability to judge characters. Further, Nabokov edges the reader to ponder that if morality is not a clear black and white picture, how will one know who is the true victim?

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