the document composes of chapter by chapter summaries throughout Lolita. the notes compose of overarching themes, character analysis, essay notes and everything you could possibly need to ace the exam.
Chapter 1-5:
Humbert seems to have a normal childhood, his mother has died and his father owns
a luxurious hotel. He falls in love with Annabel Leigh who is also a child. They never
consumate their love and she later dies from typhus. He is only able to break free
from his enchantment with Annabel when he meets Lolita. Humbrt originally studied
psychiatry but moved to english literature and wrote several books. He visited many
prostitutes but found that he was only sexually attracted to the nymphet (reference
to the nymphs of greek mythology) – a girl between 9-14 who may not be pretty, but
has a sexual appeal to him. nymphets are only noticed by men over 30 and know the
enchantment of young girls. Although he watches girls in the park, he does not act
on his desires and does not understand why you can sleep with a 17 year old but not
a 12 year old.
Chapter 6-9
He meets Monique, but once she matures and passes the age of a nymphet, he no
longer desires her. He understands that once a child is no longer nymphetic, he has
no desire for her anymore. He finds it hard to sleep with a woman and is not sexually
attracted to them. humbert marries Valeria in order to hide his true desires but
cannot find it in himself to enjoy sleeping with her. He receives an inheritence and is
asked to move to America. Valeria admits to having an affair with a taxi driver and
Humbert wishes to kill her, but never has the chance. Humbert moves to America
and recounts his travels to New York, where he takes a job transcribing French
literature and writing perfume ads. He watches the nymphets in Central Park and
later has a breakdown and is placed into a sanitoriom. It becomes evident that
humbert is an angry, violent and insane person who spends much time in and out of
mental institutions.
Chapter 10-22
Humbert moves to America and plans to stay with Mr Mcoo, but his house burns
down and he recommends staying with Charlotte Haze. He finds that she has a
nymphet, Lolita and so decides to stay longer. It is clear charlotte finds Humbert
attractive but he can only focus on Lolita. He spends much time in her room and
considers drugging both of them in order for him to fondle Lolita while she sleeps.
One day, Lolita sits on his lap and he climaxes. However, he decides he cannot have
sex with her as he does not wish to taint her purity. Mrs Haze writes a letter
expressing her love and if Humbert does not feel the same, he must leave. Humbert
marries her to get close to Lolita and begins plotting her murder. He gets an
opportunity at the lake but cannnot bring himself to do it. Humbert hates Charlotte
for how she treats his Lolita. Humbert seeks a doctor to give him strong sleeping
tablets and when he returns home, charlotte has broken into the drawer containing
the letters that speak of his lust. Charlotte immediatley threatens to leave and when
humbert comes to find her and explain it is for a book, he finds she has been run
over by a car.
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