Lolita-The Other

The Russian American writer Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977) was one of the most influential writers in the20th century. Lolita, Nabokov’s masterpiece which was the most controversial work of all his works, attracted much attention from numerous readers and critics since its publication. It was an immoral love story of a middle-aged professor who fell in love with an adolescent girl. As for its pornographic and incestuous plot, Nabokov held that it was the aesthetic ecstasy that he pursued in art. However, the author of the thesis considers that there is deep patriarchal ideology rooted in the protagonist’s mind. The expression of abnormal love, which the writer used to pursue the artistic values, would bring negative effects to readers and the society.Many scholars made research on Lolita from various angles, such as the text features, analysis of psychology and character, the theme of time, ethics etc. This thesis will analyze the work from Beauvoir’s Existential Feminism, focusing on the analysis of underlying causes of Humbert’s behaviors and psychology which embody patriarchal thoughts so as to elaborate "the other" situation of Lolita. The theoretical foundation of this article is mainly from Simone de Beauvior’s The Second Sex. Beauvior is the representative of existentialist feminism, and The Second Sex is her masterpiece, being called the Bible of feminist activity. In the book she analyzed the reasons of woman being the second sex from various aspects ranging over biology, history, myths and women in different ages etc. And she pointed out that "One is not born, but rather one becomes a woman." In this essay, the author will analyze the reasons of Lolita being the other. Lolita is not a single one nor is Lolita a special example. The story opens up from the murderer Humbert’s depiction of recollection. It is not reliable for the reason that it’s just personal apologia and what Humbert has done is illegal undoubtedly. However, the confession which seems honest and conscience-stricken has touched a few sentimental readers and put them in a moral dilemma. The protagonist defends himself by the failure of his childhood love affair; however his foul conduct already challenges human taboo morally. The novel reveals deep patriarchal ideology which influences readers’ judgment unconsciously. The author of this article believes that to analyze this novel by feminism will help clarify the ambiguities of morality for readers. Meanwhile, the author also attempts to disclose the patriarchal ideology beneath the surface of the novel by analyzing Lolita’s secondary situation and hopes to arouse readers’attention to the female situation.