Part two is a focus on H.H's desire; not in the "want" but the "how to keep". His obsession for Lolita before Part two was always a desire to have her, yet his goal wasn’t meant to give her more power over H.H, his idolization of the child gave Lolita power she wasn't aware of. Yet its shortcomings are built around H.H. dehumanizing her, and turning her into a figment of the lust, Pedophillia is built around a power play, that if he can’t get it use force was all but necessary. This can be seen through his actions at the hotel, roofing her so he can rape her.
H.H. has sex with Lolita, thus his goal in mind changes, you can reason the idea of obtaining something seen as unattainable, aka Lolita seduced by H.H, loses it value once obtained. So he has her and and now he must keep her. After all losing Lolita is akin to losing his desire. Lolita becomes proof of his desire and thus becomes the secret that he knows society will shun. Key to Part two is the fact Lolita has her own agenda and knows this, the power play continues and this agenda sets up H.H. to figure how to cage Lolita. The notion of capturing Lolita is brought about in different ways. Simply bribing her with confections and clothes is meant to be a passive approach in caging her, or the more aggressive techniques of making himself look like the better option then the orphanage. Yet the power does not shift in H.H. direction simply through Lolitas will, there was much mention of Lolita that enamored H.H's mind, her fondness of other men and boys by example. It seems like jealousy, but consider that fact that she is purposely inviting others to her body as an invitation to H.H. own secret then Lolitia openly defys him. So all of H.H. actions hence the sexual encounter becomes a means of capturing Lolita for himself. And Lolita's actions speak more on her regaining power she had lost, in many ways possessing H.H. like he posses her from sheer guilt.
What do you think, who is more powerful?
Does Lolita defy H.H.?
Ooo good point. A lot of times we see mind possession throughout the second half. He clearly divides the book for this reason. Lolita i feel like lost compared to hh he reiterates his fatherly, parental mind over her while she is trying to find her adult side, she has to use her kid mind to deal with hh. This is what she is losing, her sense to be a kid. His constant rape possesses her even though she was not conscious for part of them, that's hh asserting his dominance. The only chance for her to gain freedom was when she was in the hospital but she gets into a worse situation because that's what her life has consisted of is a chain of power trips. The only reason I feel like she reaches out to him in the end is because of hh asserting his parental mind and dominance over her for so long.
ReplyDeleteI am having a hard time really deciding which character has the most power. So far it seems as if it might be going towards Lolita. The reason is, HH is slowly having to adapt to try and keep her happy and focus on not upsetting her. She also seems to have the power because she forces him to contiously check her when she speaks to people in fear she might say too much.
ReplyDeleteMy sum up, since she has the power of fear on her side and he keeps trying to use intimidation and bribes to keep her in line, she has the upper hand. And in the begin he uses a few perantal types of soft force to get her to stay in line. " The stop, or I will turn the car around and the bribe of things she favors "(148-49).
DeleteHH started with more power, especially after Lolitas mother died. But the story evolving as it has, Lolita has continually gained more and more power.
DeleteI think that Humbert Humbert in a way is more powerful than Lolita at first, when their relationship starts. He seems to have a control of her at first through the clothes and the gifts, and even her allure’s effect on him. She seems compelled with curiosity with a new experience with Humbert. Then in the second part, he seems to be chasing her at all times, mentally and even physically sometimes. So, in that, I do think that Lolita defys H.H.
ReplyDeleteI think that Humbert Humbert in a way is more powerful than Lolita at first, when their relationship starts. He seems to have a control of her at first through the clothes and the gifts, and even her allure’s effect on him. She seems compelled with curiosity with a new experience with Humbert. Then in the second part, he seems to be chasing her at all times, mentally and even physically sometimes. So, in that, I do think that Lolita defys H.H.
ReplyDelete