Premium Essay

Humbert Mother

Submitted By
Words 909
Pages 4
Humbert Humbert describes his relationship with his childhood sweetheart, Annabel, who he claims provoked his love for “nymphets” or girls between the ages of 9 and 12 which he finds sexually attractive. He tried to fight his urges for the nymphets by marrying a childish Valeria, but their marrige falls apart and he moves to a small town in America to write. He was invited to stay in the McCoo's house, but upon his arrival, he finds their house burned down, so Ms. Haze invites him to stay with her. He was planning to decline, but when he saw Dolores, Ms. Haze's twelve year old daughter, he changes his mind. He describes Dolores as being similar to his childhood girlfriend, and immediately becomes head-over-heels in love with her, even …show more content…
Humbert notices a car is tailing him, and he becomes excessively paranoid that Lolita is conspiring with others to leave him. Lolita becomes ill, and their trip is forced to be shortened by her staying in a hospital. When Humbert goes to check on Lolita one day, he is told that she was checked out by her uncle, which outrages Humbert, inspiring him to search for Lolita for years. After his years of searching, he recieves a letter from Lolita saying that she's married, pregnant, and needs money. Humbert immediately goes to her house, giving her money in exchange for the name of the man who kidnapped her. Humbert begs her to leave her now husband to come travel with him again, but she refuses. Humbert goes to find the man who stole his Lolita, intending to kill him, and after some fighting, he does. Humbert leaves the house quickly, and is arrested for driving on the wrong side of the road and swerving, which he says he did because “I had disregareded all laws of humanity, I might as well disregard the rules of traffic.” Humbert's final request was for the memoir he made to be published only when Lolita is no longer alive, which he says is so neither of them will be alive when a person would read the book, but could be because he doesn't want people to know her side of the story, what he actually did to …show more content…
Throughout the book, Humbert states many times that he loves Lolita. He says things such as “I knew I had fallen in love with Lolita forever; but I also knew she would not be forever Lolita,” and “It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight.” Even though he says things like this, it's possible that Humbert might not have even loved her, that he was making it all up for an excuse for his behavior. The other theme in the book, morality, is almost, if not more, prevalent than love. In the book, he constantly refers to himself as a monster, as a maniac, as a spider – he knows that he's commited awful crimes. It is possible that he might just be saying those things as a justification to himself, to the readers, or to the jury his memoir was being read to. Calling himself a monster does not stop him from trying to defend his position in ways such that it was psychological (he was recovering from losing Annabel) or it was not even his fault (it was Lolita that seduced him, not the other way around.) At the end of the book, when Lolita was with her new husband, she seemed to have recovered from everything that happened between them, Humbert clearly did not. He was too obsessed with her to let her

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Critical Thinking

...Running Head: PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY IN RAISING A CHILD Both Parents should Assume Equal Responsibility in Raising a Child Christina Wells Critical Thinking March 6, 2012 Professor Mario Del Carril Men and woman who have children should always share in the rearing of their offspring. Raising children is not an easy task. It requires the participation of both parents in order for their children to grow into well balanced adults with strong character, and skill necessary to carry them through their lives. This can happen when the parents collaborate together, whether married or single in the shared parental responsibility and major decision making. The parents' input has long term consequences in the lives of their children in areas of ; child care, schooling, school trips, activities, vacations, medical care, choosing doctors, religious training, sports, etiquette, handling finances, how to keep their homes, proper nutrition’s, how to drive, hunt, fish, home maintenance, dating issues, discipline, and a host of other things that their children will face in their life as they grow into responsible adults. The responsibility of raising children begins immediately from the time they bring the child home on the first day. This is when the bonding of the child and parents begins. The mom of course is in need the most help during this time. The input from her mate is vital, as she is feeling the pain of the literal child bearing experience, and really needs the father to be...

Words: 1843 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Research

...life. When watching some of these reality shows like "Toddlers and Tiara's", you can clearly see that the parents are in it for their own gratification. 2. What do you feel is significant about this piece of literature and why? (Discuss possible themes and the author’s intentions.) The theme of this piece is dealing with conflict. It highlights how far some parents go to try to better help their children's future welfare. Ann was very content just being 'normal', but her mother wanted her to by much much more. Maybe it was only for self gratification, or maybe it was truly a sincere hope of her mother than Ann would not have to suffer with the same life challenges she had to. 3. What do you think is the value of the literary piece and the form of literature it is written in? (Why has this story lasted, and why is it so highly regarded?) Every parent wants their child to be successful. Each parent think they guide their child the right way, and who's to say what Ann's mother did was wrong. This story helps illustrate how life for a young Chinese woman can be impacted in a different culture than their own. It was easy for Americans to take life for granted. Life outside America...

Words: 365 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Peace

...changed my life for both the good and the bad. Not sure if anyone else would find this as a personal ethnical decision, but I do, only because I never thought I would have to go through this tragic life changing event. It all started back when I was in the 8th grade. I was a child who called out for attention by acting out so that I could go live with my dad. I wanted this more than anything thing in the world. I thought it was going to be all rainbows and sunshine. It wasn’t, so I decided that I would go back to my moms, but did not know how the break it to my dad without hurting his feelings. I came to the conclusion that I would just pack all the stuff I could for when I visited my mother on Christmas vacation. That was the wrong choice, my family found out and in the end I moved back to my mothers with everybody mad at me, because of the way I chose to part from my dad’s. When I got back to my mom’s the attention craving came back, I stopped going to school, and ended up dropping out months later. During this time my siblings and I have grown even further apart, so I decided it was time to make changes. I decided I would go get my GED and go to the Army. That Christmas I went to visit my dad for the first time in a year, and it was the awkward process ever. My youngest older brother refused to speak to me, and the conversation between me and my other siblings was dry. I couldn’t wait to get back home, only to later wish I had never felt that way. A month after this visit my brother...

Words: 507 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Attachments in Children

...signs of attachment is usually between the infant and his or her mother, being that the mother is generally the main caregiver in a child’s first few months of life. Even though infants are reliant on individuals at the beginning of life, “attachment to their mothers is not instantaneous” (Weiten, 2011, p. 341). They can easily be given to another individual without much difficulty. Around 8 months is when a child begins to show attachment to his mother. Separation can be difficult and stress in the infant can result as a consequence. If separation anxiety develops, it will begin to decline as the child grows older. Studies have been conducted to explain why children develop an attachment to their mothers. One study’s theory was that by a mother feeding her infant child, the child forms the attachment through the need to be fed and the mother is providing that need to the child. However, that theory was shot down when Harry Harlow decided to raise monkeys and see what happens when a frightening stimulus was introduced. Did they go to the “mother” that fed them and was made of wires or did they go to the one that held more comfort being made of cloth? They scattered to the mother made of cloth. Harlow’s explanation was that “infants are biologically programmed to emit behavior that triggers an affectionate, protective response from adults”(Weiten, 2011, p. 342). As for the quality of attachment between mother and infant, it varies and there are specifically three types of categories...

Words: 751 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Quilt

...Life Lessons The lesson we learn from our parents always come in handy. For when something tragic happen and have to take over the family business or anything that will help your family those lesson will help in tough times. All you have is what you learned from your parents; for example, hard work, dedication, and perseverance. The story “The wisdom of the last Farmer” by David Mas Masumoto goes over hard work and dedication after his father got a stroke, Masumoto had to stand up and take care of the farm. He looks at the farm with new eyes which he and generation of family have labored for decades. It was really hard for Masumoto to do it by him self but he got by with what he learned from his father with a few objects and hard work and keeping a positive attitude to always stay up. Masumoto had no choice but to put into practice what his father had teach him Determination, Hard work, and perseverance are the three things he has to use now that his dad had the stroke. Which it will help him to deal with the farm and his family struggle. Determination is one of the many things Masumoto learn from his father. After the accident with his father Masumoto has a lot of working to do. He main focus is to make those perfect peaches better than his child hood. Masumoto wants to succeed and make perfect peaches. “My main story is about trying to grow the perfect peach. I want peaches that are even better than the ones from my child hood.”(37). He is so determine to make the perfect...

Words: 847 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Preschool Development

...I was on a parenting bulletin board recently and read a post by a mother who was worried that her 4 1/2 year old did not know enough. “What should a 4 year old know?” she asked. Most of the answers left me not only saddened but pretty soundly annoyed. One mom posted a laundry list of all of the things her son knew. Counting to 100, planets, how to write his first and last name, and on and on. Others chimed in with how much more their children already knew, some who were only three. A few posted URL’s to lists of what each age should know. The fewest yet said that each child develops at his own pace and not to worry. It bothered me greatly to see these mothers responding to a worried mom by adding to her concern, with lists of all the things their children could do that hers couldn’t. We are such a competitive culture that even our preschoolers have become trophies and bragging rights. Childhood shouldn’t be a race. So here, I offer my list of what a 4 year old should know. She should know that she is loved wholly and unconditionally, all of the time. He should know that he is safe and he should know how to keep himself safe in public, with others, and in varied situations. He should know that he can trust his instincts about people and that he never has to do something that doesn’t feel right, no matter who is asking. He should know his personal rights and that his family will back them up. She should know how to laugh, act silly, be goofy and use her imagination...

Words: 928 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Short Short Story

...Hungover, standing at the line in some supermarket on the other side of town. This place is quite far from my home. In my hand I hold three bananas and a chocolate-milk. Together they form my favorite hangover cure.  In front of my the the line, a woman is standing by herself. She glimpses at me a few times with a strange look; a look that almost seemed frigthened and amazed. Suddenly she turns around and faces me, says she recognizes me. I'm sorry mam, I say, I don't think we've met before. Her voice gets slurred. She tells me I look exactly like her son. With the wallet in her hand, she takes a picture out and shows it to me. This is him, she says. A small, fat boy with pimples is shown on her old, worn picture. Her face looks depressed. He passed away a year ago, she says and continues: I'm really sorry to bother you with this, she apologizes. I can tell this means a lot to her, so I kindly say to her; I'm sorry to hear that mam, is there anything I can do for you?  She begins to stutter, I don't know if it's to much to ask, but when I've finished packing up my groceries I'll walk towards the exit. Then I'll turn around and wave at you. Her eyes gets all watery. I'm patiently listening, without seeming rude. I find this scenario really strange.  When I wave at you, it would mean the world to me, if you could wave back and yell: 'Goodbye mom'.  Of course, I tell her.  She stares into my eyes, like I'm the only one who matters. The whole cue is waiting. She...

Words: 388 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Percepolis

...Hero The Glass Castle is a memoir written by Jeannette Walls. It examines her struggle as a child and living in poverty as a young adult. She faces many challenges that helps her to become self-sufficient and successful in life. One of those challenges is her dad Rex. He is an alcoholic and he was also irresponsible. Even though Rex was irresponsible, Walls wrote about all the best times she spent with her dad. Despite all that Rex put the family through, Jeannette still loved him for two main reasons: first, for his constant ability to make her feel special, and second, because he is a never-ending source of inspiration. One thing Rex puts the family through is all the moving. They moved a total of four times from Arizona to Battle Mountain to Phoenix and then to Welch. At times Rex would just say “‘Okay, kids’ Dad said ‘the civilians are revolting. We better Skedaddle.’” (Walls109). Skedaddle means to get going and move, but in Rex’s language it meant to move to a new city and take whatever you can put in your pockets. He wasn’t a man that would take many things with him when he would move anywhere, and so he made his family do the same. Rex would always reassure Jeannette that everything is okay and he would make her feel comfortable about the situation they are in. She saw her father like a hero, saving them from the bad guys every time they moved, at least when they were younger. Rex’s ability to make Jeannette feel unique is on of the main reasons why she still holds...

Words: 952 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

A Real Life Nightmare

...and there was not another boat in sight. As my parents, my sister Brianna, my friend Alissa and I traveled home from Fire Island; there was not a sound except for the engine of the boat running. As I looked up in the distance I saw a light and kidding around with Brianna and Alissa I said, “hey look a UFO” and they both laughed. All of a sudden I heard a bang. I closed my eyes and grabbed onto the pole right next to me. The boat was spinning; I heard screaming, and my Dad say something. Then everything came to a sudden stop; I got up and looked at the horrifying scene that surrounded me. I saw my father pulling himself up onto his seat, his eyes swollen shut, blood pouring down his face; he was confused and incoherent. Next to me was my mother, grabbing onto the side of the boat, her arm only attached by a few pieces of skin, her flesh cut open, her bone sticking out, blood pouring down from her face. My friend was screaming and I quickly snapped at her to shut up. This was not the time for her to be acting like this. There was an even bigger problem then the bloody scene around me; everyone was accounted for except for my sister. I looked around and realized that lying on the floor underneath the canopy that used to be the top of my boat was my sister, motionless and decrepit. I immediately went to her side and lifted off the heavy canopy and pushed it away. She was face down and there were no signs that she was breathing; knowing CPR I knew that there was not much time if...

Words: 1471 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Just Like That - Repport to the Court

...that his father is dead. What happens after seems to be a little unclear. Jamie is not able to explain how he finds his way home. Evaluation of the psychological profile of Jamie. I have now spoken to Jamie for some hours. He appears to be unstable. He has been crying a couple of times. I don’t think he cries because he is scared, actually I think it’s because he wants to fool me, to think that he is a little innocent boy. In my opinion Jamie knows what he did, when he shot his father, it was not an accident. Jamie is a sly, but clever little boy. The relationship between Jamie and his father was actually not good. Jamie has some serious wounds on his back and legs. It looks like he's been beaten by a belt or something like that. His mother left Jamie and his dad, when Jamie was little. That might have had a negative effect on him. It seems that his dad has been pushing him, to do stuff that Jamie did not like, since he was little. I assume, that the shooting incident has had an effect on him as well. It made him even more unstable than he already was. On the basis of the interview with Jamie, and my evaluation of his...

Words: 463 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

How Lucky You Are

...or you could starve because your family cannot afford food. Some of the people who live under these conditions try to immigrate to another country. Sometimes the immigrant is completely alone without any family, because the family is unable to run away from the country. If the immigrant then succeeds their immigration they do not know anything about their family anymore. For all they know they could be dead. This is what the story “How Lucky You Are” from 2010 by Depi Alper is about. The story takes place in the urban environment of South London in Corydon where the main character named Max lives. Max is a troubled teenager who lives with his mom. Max’ father left to find himself. Max hates him for this mainly because he could hear his mother cry weeks after the father left: “Yeah right, Dad. That's why I heard her crying every night for weeks after you left. Fuck off then and if you do manage to find yourself in Thailand or wherever you are, give yourself a kick in the bollocks from me.” (page 1 line 16-18). Before his father left he was very excited to start at a new school called The Brit School. It is a school for performing arts and technology. He started on this school because his mom and his teachers said he...

Words: 938 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Citi

...1. Character's Name:Ernestine 2. Scene (Act & scene #): Scene 1 3. Summarize the scene in 3-4 sentences: Ernestine and her sister Ermina just lost their mother and are brought from Florida to Brooklyn by their father. His father devoted into Father Divine then. Given Circumstances 3. Gender: Female 4. Age: 17 years old 5. Place (of the scene): 6. Time (of the scene): 7. Relationship to other character(s) in the scene: Godfrey-- Ernestine's father Ermina---Ernestine's sister 8. Any other important facts we need to know about the character: Character (3-4 sentences each) 9. How would you describe them physically? Ernestine---17 year old young girl looking with African-American dark skin. Has passion in graduation and hates movie house. Godfrey---He is like a stoic. He is aggrieved and stressful to life. He believes in Father Divine. Ermina---She is confident and young. She has the passion of the youth. She occupied well with her sister. 10. How would you describe them vocally? Ernestine---Expresses a young girl who is stereotypes and has racial cliches and as the narrator of the whole. Godfrey---a middle-aged person with deep and tight voice. Acting accurately to show his stoic mood. Ermina---A young girl with self-assuredness and voice is higher and brighter than others. 11. How do other characters describe your character? She goes over many obstable as she grows up, while Godfrey is always a lovely daddy. When he receives a mission from Divne...

Words: 564 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Homeless of Liz Murray and Murray Barr

...Homeless of Liz Murray and Murray Barr Elizabeth Murray has been homeless since she was born by her parent were cocaine addicts who spent most of the family’s money on feeding their habits. By her age 15, she was homeless and her mother had died of AIDS, and her father was on the streets. She told her mother that she made her vows to herself that her life would be different life, and made her decision that the best way to avoid that to go back to school, but she accepted at Humanities Preparatory Academy as public high school which they did not know she is herself as homeless. She did become more intelligence student and loved to learning she can do. At last, she finally accepted to enter into Harvard University after her 15 different of scholarships already awarded. Liz felt her parent made her feel loved and understood that her parent had disease that prevented them from giving her more than they did. Her father, with whom she is close and has developed AIDS,. Liz does not feel she has moved past of her childhood rather she stayed her part of everything about who she is. She has learned from her experiences and looked her new life. She now is brilliant and intelligent education and person. She can share with all the people how she felt her experience about her homeless life. About Murray Barr, I hadn’t known very well about his life, but I do know Liz’s life than Murray. I read his article which is showing no real reason why he was homeless considering he was ex-marine...

Words: 421 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Managing Anxiety in Parents of Preoperative Children Ages Birth to Three

...Management of Parental Preoperative Anxiety Walden University NURS4000, Section 01, Research and Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice October 6, 2013 Management of Parental Preoperative Anxiety When a child requires surgical intervention, the process can be a stressful and frightening experience for the entire family. Some parents express feelings of guilt along with anxiety over having to subject their child to invasive procedures. Though our facility offers a preoperative program for families, it is limited in age for those 4 – 12 years old and healthy. The purpose of this assignment is to give information on a change in practice aimed at adequately managing preoperative anxiety of patients and families not eligible for the traditional preoperative preparation offered. The Problem As part of preoperative preparation in the pediatric population, healthy children ages 4 - 12 and their families are offered a developmentally appropriate Child Life preparation class. Given by the certified Child Life Specialist, this is an interactive program aimed at helping children and families understand what to expect during the preoperative, operative and postoperative periods, it consists of hands-on medical play, educational games, and a tour of the operating and recovery rooms. A week before the scheduled surgery, a Registered Nurse will contact the all families via telephone and conduct a health review along with giving preoperative and arrival instructions....

Words: 1591 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Three Family Facts

...Daraye Reyes Professor, Altenbernd English 52 October 29, 2013 Three Family Facts A family is defined as a group consisting of parents and children but, it takes more than just a group to be a family. For instance even though others are not always happy with their family, a family is the biggest blessing. There is love, unity and reliance. It takes love and support to build a very healthy family. Also being very united and reliable builds trust and confidence between one another. These are the main bases that a family would or can consist of. First of all, no matter what situation makes you go against your family, they will always be a blessing. Not only are they your family members, they are people who have been with you since day one. Every time I hear the word “family”, millions of memories fun through my head for example, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and so many birthday parties. Not only because they are special occasions but because all of my family gathers together at any of my family members house and have a cook out. There are many people who are not blessed with a family, have had a family, or unfortunately are now deceased. Therefore you should appreciate the time you spend with your family because you never know what tomorrow will bring. In addition, being a united family can build up your trust towards one another. A family also consists of reliable people who are there when you need them. People don’t easily trust others, but when it comes...

Words: 544 - Pages: 3