Nabokov's Style
Hi everybody!
In this blog post, I'm going to be talking about the writing style that Nabokov uses in Lolita and how it contributes to the intense emotion and mood in each scene. To be honest, I didn't enjoy this past reading too much. I found it pretty boring, what with the constant descriptions of driving around and Lolita's school and friends. I think if the scenes were written from Lolita's perspective with her actually doing things, it would have been a bit more interesting than just hearing it from Humbert's point of view where he sits around all day, paranoid that someone will find out the bad things he has done. Whatever. Let's talk about style!
Nabokov is the KING of description and long, drawn-out sentences. His extremely detailed diction and lengthy sentences directly reflect Humbert's obsession with Lolita and her world. At the beginning of the book, he describes Lolita constantly, down to the tiniest details: "that silky shimmer above her temple grading into bright brown hair [...] the little bone twitching at the side of her dust-powdered ankle" (page 41). Humbert literally notes everything about the poor girl.
Not only does Nabokov use selection of detail and flowery language to describe Lolita, but he also uses it to set the scene. For example, one of the first times Humbert is alone with Lolita, he says "The implied sun pulsated in the supplied poplars; we were fantastically and divinely alone; I watched her rosy, gold-dusted, beyond the veil of my controlled delight [...] the sun was on her lips..." (page 60). Later on, he describes walking back toward the cabin where Lolita was waiting, recounting "the young summer breeze that enveloped the nape of [his] neck, the giving crunch of the damp gravel, the juicy tidbit [he] had sucked out at last from a hollow tooth..." (page 214). Nabokov's writing is beautiful, even when describing not-so-beautiful scenes, and it sends a clear message about just how much this time in Humbert's life meant to him. Keep in mind, all of this is being written purely based off of his memory. He remembers everything, down to the piece of food that was stuck in his tooth at the time. Just as he perfectly illustrates his memories about his first lover, Annabel, the style of writing makes the passion and nostalgia that he feels for his time with Lolita are extremely evident.
In this blog post, I'm going to be talking about the writing style that Nabokov uses in Lolita and how it contributes to the intense emotion and mood in each scene. To be honest, I didn't enjoy this past reading too much. I found it pretty boring, what with the constant descriptions of driving around and Lolita's school and friends. I think if the scenes were written from Lolita's perspective with her actually doing things, it would have been a bit more interesting than just hearing it from Humbert's point of view where he sits around all day, paranoid that someone will find out the bad things he has done. Whatever. Let's talk about style!
Nabokov is the KING of description and long, drawn-out sentences. His extremely detailed diction and lengthy sentences directly reflect Humbert's obsession with Lolita and her world. At the beginning of the book, he describes Lolita constantly, down to the tiniest details: "that silky shimmer above her temple grading into bright brown hair [...] the little bone twitching at the side of her dust-powdered ankle" (page 41). Humbert literally notes everything about the poor girl.
Not only does Nabokov use selection of detail and flowery language to describe Lolita, but he also uses it to set the scene. For example, one of the first times Humbert is alone with Lolita, he says "The implied sun pulsated in the supplied poplars; we were fantastically and divinely alone; I watched her rosy, gold-dusted, beyond the veil of my controlled delight [...] the sun was on her lips..." (page 60). Later on, he describes walking back toward the cabin where Lolita was waiting, recounting "the young summer breeze that enveloped the nape of [his] neck, the giving crunch of the damp gravel, the juicy tidbit [he] had sucked out at last from a hollow tooth..." (page 214). Nabokov's writing is beautiful, even when describing not-so-beautiful scenes, and it sends a clear message about just how much this time in Humbert's life meant to him. Keep in mind, all of this is being written purely based off of his memory. He remembers everything, down to the piece of food that was stuck in his tooth at the time. Just as he perfectly illustrates his memories about his first lover, Annabel, the style of writing makes the passion and nostalgia that he feels for his time with Lolita are extremely evident.
Some cool Lolita-inspired fan art.
The other major aspect of the writing style Nabokov uses is his tendency to have Humbert describe events in fantasy-like ways, almost as if the scenes are from fairy tales. There are queens and villains, ghosts and gods in his mind, characters that come right out of his head into the reality that he allows us to see. He describes the nosy neighbor as an "odious spinster" (page 183). When Lolita tries to run away, he paints her as "a small impetuous ghost [slipping] through the shrubs; a silvery dot in the dark..." (page 206). When he has the suspicion that there is a car following them, he describes it as the "mathematical, mirage-like [...] viatic counterpart of a magic carpet" (page 219) and as a "red ghost swimming and shivering with lust in [his] mirror..." (page 217).
I mentioned this earlier when I was talking about how Humbert frequently switches to the third person, but I think his character tends to remove himself from the situations he knows are wrong in any way he can. This fantasy world that he places some events in might be yet another coping mechanism. By separating himself and the others around him from reality, it's easier to deal with them later on. It's almost as if he doesn't have to take as much responsibility.
To close out this blog post, I'll just give my two cents about Nabokov's style. In general, it is very impressive and effective in setting up the scene and developing characters. However, while I find it intriguing, almost enchanting sometimes, it does get a little exhausting to read.
When you're reading long sentence after long sentence over and over again, it's tiring, but you force yourself to keep reading and not skip over anything, just in case it's tremendously important, even though it just keeps going on and on and it doesn't seem like anything will happen, and there are so many commas you're beginning to lose count, and there's a lot of fancy words that you're not exactly sure you know, but you don't want to take the time to go out of your way and look them up because chances are they won't be that influential in your overall takeaway of a three-paragraph scene.
Now, imagine reading ten of those sentences in a row. See what I mean about it being a little tiring?
image from: https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/disp/034d9c19271965.562d792eb6eca.jpg
Hi Megan,
ReplyDeleteI was very excited to read another one of your posts. You are able to combine clarity, so I may understand the novel, as well as voice, which is probably the best part in reading a blog.
I couldn't relate to this blog post more. Although my current book, The Red Tent, flows rather smoothly, your description of the long sentences reminds me of reading parts of Walden in ninth grade English. (Not something I really want to remember). I also can't help but think about how much the people reading The Old Man and The Sea could probably relate to this post.
One of the most intriguing parts of this novel, for me, is the like-ability of Humbert. I was wondering if this type of writing style contributes to that like-ability or takes away from it. I can see how you would be able to feel Humbert's passion in those incredibly detailed sentences, but perhaps all those details do is just emphasize his stalker-ish nature.
Hey Clara!
DeleteFirst of all, I can totally relate to you when it comes to reading Walden. I read it my sophomore year, and while I thought it was very interesting, it could get tedious to read at times.
Your question about the writing style really made me think about whether it made me like Humbert more or less. I can't say I've come to a definite conclusion, but what I can say is this: although it most definitely makes him seem even more creepy, it is helpful as a reader to understand completely what he is feeling and seeing. I guess what it comes down to is the separation between myself as a reader and as a person. I'm definitely intrigued and impressed by the style of writing, but I am by no means supporting what he's writing about!
Meg,
ReplyDeleteI really liked this post; it was super cool. I like how you embedded the fan art but I'm not really sure what it means. What do the butterflies symbolize?
For my style blog post I also wrote about Nabokov's long sentences and how Humbert switches to third person sometimes too. I completely agree with you about the coping mechanism idea because it seemed as though he would only switch narration around things he was particularly shameful or guilty about.
Do you think that this shows that although he speaks about his pedophilia as though he can't control it and justifies it a lot that he may actually feel very guilty about what he does to Lolita? Maybe since he is trying to defend himself against a crime he feels like he has to justify himself and make it sound like he had no choice but he actually does feel guilty?
Let me know what you think, I look forward to reading the rest of your blog!
Hey Beks!
DeleteI definitely agree with your thoughts about Humbert's feeling of guilt and how he almost places the blame on everyone but himself. I noticed that while reading, actually, because I remember thinking it was weird how he wrote the scene as if Lolita was purposely seducing him when he first met her (which I have a feeling was not exactly true.)
To address the fan art, I honestly think it can mean whatever you want it to! I took it as Lolita lying on a bed after a sexual encounter with Humbert, and feeling her innocence and childhood (butterflies) slowly fly away from her as this man takes over her life.
A really thoughtful discussion of the style, Meg. I particularly appreciate the inclusion of the specific examples. Your discussion of the fantasy imagery is particularly insightful.
ReplyDelete