In this section of Lolita, Humbert Humbert steers Lo through a number of various hotels throughout the US. Through their differing views on what is attractive and entertaining, we can see just how enslaved Lolita has become to Humbert. Gone are the days that Lo would rush into his arms and embrace him or clumsily flirt. Lo has now been fully exposed to Humbert's desires, and begins to see that he does not truly have her best interests at heart. Humbert's patchwork relationship with Lolita is supported by a constant stream of bribes and tourist shops, and every day seems to tear a little more at the seams. He even goes as far as to threaten her with reform school, and all of his actions are possessive and subtly violent (ie when he places his hand on her neck and steers her inside). Lolita is unruly, unpredictable, and changing from a young girl into a teenager. She begins to flirt with other boys her age, which Humbert immediately tries to put a stop to. Humbert controls every part of Lolita's life, and only keeps her in good spirits so that he may have her more often, and without her being able to complain. Lolita is drawn in by the commercialism of the world, often stopping at tourists shops and attractions simply to be a consumer, while Humbert is constantly concerned with economy and frugality. Also, despite Humbert's attempts to educate Lolita, she is merely concerned with short lived attractions, just as he is primarily focused on his sexual encounters with Lo. The pair, while on their road trip, seem to be merely wandering from place to place, with no real end in sight. They have nothing to achieve, and are merely living from attraction to attraction, frantically trying to keep their relationship from falling apart. Their interactions are completely without feeling, one only using the other to fulfill their personal desires. Humbert even goes so far as to call Lolita a "brat," and sympathizes with Hazel concerning the temperamental girl's upkeep. There is no emotional connection between Humbert and Lo, only a messy, violent, claustrophobic road trip that threatens to end tragically.
In what way does Humbert seem possessive of Lolita throughout these chapters?
Do you think that Lo is using Humbert as much as he is using her? Why or why not?
How do you think that becoming a teenager is affecting Lolita? How does her time at Beardsly affect her relationship with Humbert?
I found in my research that Humbert is technically classified as a "hebephile" in the context of his relationship with Lo. That is, he is sexually attracted to someone in the early to middle stages of puberty. The fact that her pubescent years are coming to an end right before his eyes is likely fueling his frustration with her. For Lolita, entering her teenage years comes with many emotional and physical changes. Her interest and understanding of intimate relationships, which to this point has been exclusive to her interactions with Humbert and a few fumbling camp experimentations, is developing so that she is aware of Humbert's affections and definitely inappropriate and also aware that she has no desire or intention to be his lover forever. Both of them know at this point that what every holiday fantasy they've been holding on to is coming to an end.
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