Lolita 179-236

In this section of reading from Lolita, the main themes of innocence and not being able to let go, and the whole weirdness about the novel are still in full effect. However the main change I see from the past two sections of reading is Humbert father like attitude towards Lolita. Even though he still is sick considering he has sex with her, but it seems like after her mother died he almost has an awakening of some sort in which he feels obligated to obviously love Lolita, but in a more unconditional way. In chapter 22 part two, the reader sees Lolita taken away from Humbert or more so the other way around, for really the first time since the beginning of the book. I guess its a story and things have to be stirred up even more, or else the author couldn't keep reader's interested. I think Nabokov does great things in this novel, and keeping the reader weirded out yes, but also interested in more of what these characters and the story is all about."While I was not looking, my child was taken away from me! In vain I insisted I be allowed to spend the night on a welcome mat in a corner of their damned hospital", here again Humbert refuses to let go, its quite unbelievable, children grow up and Lolita is sick and its just the fact that it gets annoying. Its the same over and over again, and thing Lolita does or is involved with there is Humbert sneaking a peak or at least trying to. And considering what happens at the end of this chapter where Lolita is basically abducted I can understand, but the chances of something happening like that seem slim, but possible. "To myself I whispered that I still had my gun, and was still a free man-free to trace the fugitive, free to destroy my brother", here comes the theme of just pure violence and hatred built up in Humbert. This line alone bring me to think something happened to Humbert in his past, that really traumatized him. Come to think about it maybe Humbert himself was a victim of pedophilia. I'm not sure about the numbers but maybe victims can also turn into predator so to speak. Just this whole built up anger, and considering the fact that it is his brother obviously has no meaning to him.

In the next couple of chapters we see a furious Humbert who is on the hunt to find the love of his life. The novel really turns into a investigation that Humbert sets out on. No doubt I think I would do the same for somebody I loved. "I discovered at once that he had foreseen my investigations and had planted insulting pseudonyms for my special benefit", basically Humbert concludes that while he and Lolita went on this trip across the country the abductor was following. And that quote states how Humbert feels insulted almost by this and how he could have been so oblivious to this. But basically Humbert goes on a huge private investagtion into lolitas whereabouts. And the reader really gets a sense of Humbert obsession with Lolita, and back to the abduction, Lolita in my mind wasn't abducted she left. She got tired of the same old same old and wanted to grow up and move on. I feel like maybe she knew the abductor and her chance came and she took it. She basically had nothing to lose, as for Humbert he lost everything that he loved. Eventually Humbert somewhat moves on and starts a somewhat meaningful relationship with Rita. I don't think Humbert really wanted her, but Rita seems a bit confused on her lets say outtake on life in general. She is divorced three times and was abandoned by her servant, she just seems a little out there. I don't really see what Humbert sees so appealing in her, but shes lost and he can take care of her for a bit. I think it traces back to the whole innocence thing Humbert loves in girls.

Eventually Humbert comes about learning of Lolita's whereabouts after what seems like a lifetime for him. And once he finds her, shes pregnant, married, the whole innocence is gone but Humbert and his seductive nature finds himself trying to bribing her to come along. "Life is very short. From here to that old car you know so well there is a stretch of twenty, twenty-five steps. Now. Right now. Come just as you are. And we shall live happily ever after." Here Humbert is just the same old way, but it finally Lolita doesn't go for it and basically leaves him hanging. Humbert doesn't though he gives her money and leaves sad of course but, I am happy Lolita has finally grown up, and realized that Humbert really is no more than a father figure.