Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

In Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov we take a look at Humbert Humbert's obsession with "nymphets" in particuarly Dolores Haze. Throughout the novel is apparent that because of his obession with adolescent girls, Humbert feels exiled. We see him rationalize this obession multiple times, including illusion to historical figures, like Dante or Petrarch whom both fell in love with their lovers when their lovers were young. This shows an exile in time period. Humbert feels like he is exiled by his time period because as he even mentioned in 1840 over 1940 it was acceptable for a young girl to be married off to a man. He is exiled by his time period because he sees no problem with this obession of "nymphets". One could call it his rationalization of a morally unacceptable obsession, but he defends himself throughout the whole book. He constantly mentions other cultures that are still around in which it is socially acceptable to marry young girls. Humbert's exile is one of time, and place. In America and Europe it is unacceptable for him to have any form of relation with a young girl, when 100 years earlier or in a different country he very well could. He feels that the normal standards for living are not what he believes in. This exile of time and place I feel is the most important in the novel, because even when he is finally able to have his Lolita any time he wants, he still has to hide it from everyone around him because it is not socially acceptable, when he sees no problem with it. Throughout the novel we also see a small exile on Humbert for being European. We see that Charlotte and other people considered him a European man due to his accent, and mysteriousness. Dolores even teases him at one point for his polite European way of asking for directions. He could tell that other people would tease him to, because he does do what she imitates. This exile due to his descent is important for Humbert's exile from the place he is currently in. Due to his descent is exiled from America just like his obsession with nymphets.