Vladimir Nabokov is doing a couple of interesting things in the way that he is presenting Lolita. The first is that the reader is introduced into the book by way of the supposed writer. The book is meant to be a manuscript that is written by the main character Humbert. As the story progresses like any normal story would but every once in a while there will be an included note to the lawyer that is handling the manuscript. This does two things one it reminds that all parts of this story go towards the eventual confession, and also Reminds us that this is his side of the story and that it is the events from his point of view. Nabokov make no attempt to hide the allusions to Edgar Allen Poe and his detective stories, and is making many references to his work, kind of taking the detective story and turning it on its head. But also as a writer Nabokov is asking the reader to take the place of the detective to find the allusions and references that he is making in the story. Another thing that I find of interest in an early note I believe it occurs in the first chapter of the book that basically said he did not want to have to write out a long introduction for the book, but the main plot of the story really does not start until he is in America and has become a lodger at Haze house. Everything before he arrives there is background information about humbert and his life.
If Nabokov intended to have a short introduction, then why did he choose to include all the background information leading up to Humbert’s stay at the Haze house?
One question that I keep asking myself and is kind of reinforced by how this story is written is how reliable of a narrator is Humbert, or this story for that matter? Is this his actual confession, or a manuscript written as a book, that has then been edited by an outsider?
Up to this point in the book has there been anything that would or should cause controversy? Why or why not?
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