Humbert Humbert in 2008

Raving Lunatic · Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:32 pm

If Humbert was a real person in today's society, would he have been arrested and labeled as a sexual predator in today's society>

Grim · Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:00 pm

When in fact most true sexual predations go unreported. Having seen only the original movie I would say even seeming pedophilic unions can be consensual and perhaps contain components of what you could consider a "modern" definition of "love."

Ophelia · Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:45 pm

Raving wrote:


	Quote: If Humbert was a real person in today's society, would he have been arrested and labeled as a sexual predator in today's society?

Yes, of course he would, provided the law found out about the relationship, since sexual abuse within the family is usually not reported.

The vast majority of incest cases involve the mother's husband or boyfriend, and I really don't believe that a twelve-year-old saying this was consensual sex, especially in that scenario, would have much effect with a jury.

Moreover, Humbert used threats to make Lolita comply:

Part 2, chapter 1:


	Quote: Finally what happens to you, a minor, accused of having impaired the morals of an adult in a respectable inn*, what happens if you complain to the police of my having kidnapped and raped you? Let us suppose they believe you. (...) So I go to jail. But what happens to you, my orphan? Well, you are luckier. You become the ward of the Department of Public Welfare-- which I am afraid sounds a little bleak. [There follows a list including: "the correctional school", "the reformatory" "the juvenile detention home".] Don't you think that under the circumstances Dolores Haze had better stick to her old man? (...) By rubbing all this in, I succeeded in terrorizing Lo.

* This of course sounds like complete rubbish.

The rest would make a very strong case against him if it was repeated.

Lawrence · Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:50 am

There is an article on Lolita's 50th anniversary by Gates in the October 11 Newsweek. I found it very interesting. I don't know how to hypertext to it. L

Ophelia · Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:10 pm

Thanks Lawrence.
Here is the link.
www.newsweek.com/id/163440

Raving Lunatic · Mon Oct 13, 2008 6:58 pm

Very interesting

Grim · Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:23 pm

Am I to understand the the character Lolita represents a 12-year old girl? I would tend to imagine closer to 16 or 17.

Ophelia · Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:11 pm

Yes- the actress in Kubrick' film looks 16 or 17, , but Humbert makes it clear throughout the book that his obsession is for a 12-year-old nymphet, and that's Dolores's age when she mets him.

Grim · Tue Oct 14, 2008 7:54 pm

That's just wrong.

Raving Lunatic · Thu Oct 16, 2008 6:02 pm

In the first few chapters of the book, Humbert states that the perfect age for his nymphets is 9-14 of age. He states that only nymphets of this age group have a certain air about them. Not all girls are nymphets.

I agree it is very wrong. What scares me even more is there are actual people, both men and women, who feel this way about children. I have no clue how they can view innocent human beings in such a way.

bohemian_girl · Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:11 am

I think that their 'innocence' is part of what, sadly, draws them to them. The thought of the nymphet being untouched and 'pure.'

I think for sure that things would go in a similar way today. It certainly illegal and in most jurisdictions, even if a twelve year old did consent, the law states that a person is only capable of giving consent after a certain age... so whatever consent 'Lolita' may have given, it would still be a crime. Of course there's the issue of whether it would be reported or not. A lot of things do go unreported. Would a girl in Lolita's shoes be more or less inclined to report it in this day and age? Who knows?

Lawrence · Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:52 pm

My understanding of the age of the girl in the movie is that she was 16. All of the sexually explicit scenes was the body of a stand in girl who was 19 because the California law did not allow a minor to do sexually explicit scenes. This is not factual only 50 year old recall. L

realiz · Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:18 pm

I have not seen the movie but it sounds like the movie changed Lolita's character. I have not finished the book, but Lolita was more child than woman. At the beginning of the book she is in grade 7 with juvenile budding breasts, and weighing 86 lbs (if I remember correctly). Humbert was indeed a pedaphile and this was not a love affair but an exploitation of a young girl and he would indeed be arrested if it was reported today.

To add to Ophelia's quote:
Humbert:


	Quote: By rubbing all this in, I succeeded in terrorizing Lo, .......But if I managed to establish that background of shared secrecy and shared guilt, I was much less successful in keeping her in good humor

In the book we do not really get a clear picture of Lolita's thoughts and actions as we view them only through Humbert's eyes. A movie would be quite different as we would see the story equally through both of them.

Raving Lunatic · Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:15 pm

Sorry I haven't been on here for so long. I am still continuing to read the book but it has been heavily damaged due to a new puppy. With that said, let me respond to this discussion.

It is correct that alot of these offenses are not reported. In fact alot of families would prefer to handle this type of thing "internally". Goes along with the phrase "airing out dirty laundry".

Their innocence is what attracts them. I would love to have seen a second book that is from Dolly's view. Would she think he was a dirty old man? Would she see him as a god only to later see him as a villian in the end?

realiz · Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:24 pm


	Quote: Would she think he was a dirty old man? Would she see him as a god only to later see him as a villian in the end?

I'm not sure how far along you are so I don't want to say too much. I think that Lolita saw him as a god. She may have had some fond feelings for him in the beginning, may have enjoyed a little attention and flirting, but it is fairly clear from the first time they had sex that she did not return his feelings and did see their relationship as dirty.

Humbert original attraction to her was about innocence and youth but even as that is dispelled by her experience his lust for her does not lessen.

Raving..what kind of puppy did you get?

Forum rules

Humbert Humbert in 2008 Tweet This Topic

Who is online

Chat Room Always Open!