Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindnesses and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart, and secure comfort.

Sir Humphry Davy

Monday, January 31, 2011

Lolita pages 252-282

After having been away from Lolita for an expanded period of time, Humbert feels as though he sees her everywhere and even fills out a missing persons ad. In his great loneliness he begins a relationship with a woman named Rita. In the progression of his relationship with Rita he returns to many of the places and hotels which he visited with Lolita. He does this in an attempt to releive the memories of Lolita but he feels as though he is going to love her forever. However, eventually Rita and Humbert's relationship begins to dwindle and they grow apart but still remain friends as Humbert visits her frequently.

During a visit with Rita, Humbert recieves two letters-- one being from Lolita addressed as Dad. The letter informed Humbert that Lolita had been married and was expecting a child. However, the purpose of the letter was to ask Humbert for money. Humbert is furious and sets out to kill Lolita's new husband. With little help from the letter Humbert finally finds Lolita's house. Humbert describes it as a humble house right off of Hunter Road. Immediately after seeing Lolita Humbert recognizes two things. The first thing being that she is pregnant... very pregnant. The second thing being that she has grown out of her nymphet stage. He also comes to the realization that despite her no longer being a nymphet, Humbert will love her until the day he dies.

After seeing Lolita's husband he realizes that he is not the man who abducted her from the hospital and realizes that he has no real reason to be mad at him. Lolita tells Humbert that the man who abducted her was the playwright of the play she planned to be in earlier... his name is Clare Quilty. She confesses that he is her true love but after her refusal to participate in unusual sexual activities he kicked her out. After this she became a waitress and later found her current husband.

Towards the end of this section Humbert seems to be maturing and coming to terms with his distance from Lolita. It seems as though maybe his relationship with Rita has brought about a change in him. At the beginning of the book his main concern was nymphets, and now they dont seem to phase him. Although he confesses his undying love for Lolita, it seems as though he has come to terms with the fact that they cant be together. I am not as frustrated with Humbert's character anymore, but rather more content with the man he is finally becoming.

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