In Nabokov's book Lolita and in Stanley Kubrick's film of the same name, Lolita's role never sheds light on her character's interiority. Instead, Nabokov and Kubrick use men to convey the suffering of poor Lolita. The book is told from the perspective of the lecherous Humbert, and his conception of Lolita's state of mind only reflects the guilt he feels at having taken her innocence. Similarly, in Kubrick's film, Peter Sellers who plays Claire Quilty, is the only person who speaks on behalf of Lolita – a faulty testimony, for obvious reasons.
[...] One scene in which the ‘book Quilty' appears almost as he does in film (though with less identifying recognition) is at the hotel, the Enchanted Hunter where Humbert takes Lolita. The book describes the apprehensive Humbert pacing around the hotel waiting for Lolita to fall asleep as he encounters an unidentified man on the porch who questions him about Lolita: “Where the devil did you get beg your pardon?” said: the weather is getting better.” “Seems “Who's the lassie?” daughter.” lie she's not.” beg your pardon?” said: July was hot. [...]
[...] Lolita's Prison In Nabokov's book Lolita and in Stanley Kubrick's film of the same name, Lolita's role never sheds light on her character's interiority. Instead, Nabokov and Kubrick use men to convey the suffering of poor Lolita. The book is told from the perspective of the lecherous Humbert, and his conception of Lolita's state of mind only reflects the guilt he feels at having taken her innocence. Similarly, in Kubrick's film, Peter Sellers who plays Claire Quilty, is the only person who speaks on behalf of Lolita a faulty testimony, for obvious reasons. [...]
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