2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

they find themselves liking Humbert’s character, despite knowing what he has done. Nabokov continues to enforce that there is no fit definition as to what is considered right and wrong, and each case is unique. Another significant technique Humbert integrates into his writing, includes his flippant attempts to obstruct the reader process; instead of sticking to one clear storyline, Humbert will distract the smooth reading process by integrating pointless sub- storylines or comments, hence distracting the reader from the primary story. One of the ways he does this, is by fooling an intellectual reader by introducing various forms of narratives. Humbert mocks the extravagantly fantastic tale, love lyrics, screenplays, ‘Freudian psychiatric case studies, detective fiction, journalism, advertisements, serious pornography, and the realistic novel’ (More, 2001). This greatly confuses the reader, corrupts them even, as the reader’s judgement of Humbert’s crimes is honed by his verbal pressure. As the reader continues through the novel, noticing this pattern, one becomes warier of Humbert’s tricks. To counteract this, Humbert claims moral understanding, minimally compensating for the damage inflicted on Dolly’s childhood which he stole from her, Humbert stated “I reviewed my case. With the utmost simplicity and clarity I now saw myself and my love” (p.282). Humbert cleverly integrates these small counteracting phrases, resulting in the dealing with a complex reading experience, challenging the assumption that the reader understands the intricate plot and sub- storylines. Humbert also integrates the use of wordplay to make the sexually perverse nature of the main character comical, charming, pitiful, romantic and even deplorable; via this, the reader is encouraged to sympathise with Humbert. Humbert is able to write in a hectic, self-falsifying way yet still sincere. ‘With all that is now believed and felt about sexuality and self-responsibility, no one can call Humbert’s

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