Introduction to Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita/Puns
Nabokov's Lolita abounds with puns and ambiguity. The author uses different types of this stylistic device: his writing includes allusions from Classical and Renaissance categories to contemporary humorous play on words[1]. According to Lokrantz, Nabokov's puns can be divided into five categories[2]:
- Allusive - puns alluding to another author or piece of writing. EXAMPLE: the scene on the couch from Chapter 13, in which Humbert for the first time enjoys Dolores (without her knowledge). She is playing with an apple and Humbert takes it from her:
"Give it back," - she pleaded, showing the marbled flush of her palms. I produced Delicious. She grasped it and bit into it (...)[3]
Explanation: The scene is a play on the biblical theme of temptation and fall; it is suggested that Lolita plays the role of Eve and that she seduces Humbert.
- Thematic - puns used to highlight a theme from the book. EXAMPLE: the author uses many levels of meaning when playing with Lolita's name. He employs many plays on her Christian name - Dolores, her nicknames - Lolita, Lo, Dolly, and her surname - Haze:
doleful days in dumps and dolors[4]
my dolorous and hazy darling[5]
Explanation: Doleful, dolorous and dolors are plays on the name Dolores and all of them are related to pain and suffering. Lolita's name was not chosen by Nabokov accidentally; it indicates the girl's sorrow from the very beginning of the novel.
- Ironic - puns that show irony of a scene or a description. EXAMPLE: after Charlotte's death, Humbert calls the camp where Lolita was spending the summer he says that he has to fetch her because:
her mother was hospitalized, that the situation was grave, that the child should not be told it was grave (...). [6]
Explanation: Humbert and the readers know that Charlotte is already dead and therefore a new meaning is given to the word "grave". The irony of the situation is emphasised by using the word twice.
- Ornamental - puns used for embellishment. They are extremely frequent in the novel "where Nabokov's use of English has sprung into full flower"[7].
- Connective - puns where two separated ideas are connected by the author.
Why puns were used by Nabokov?
- For the economy of language - "several levels of thought can be awakened in the reader's mind because of the disparate meanings and connotations of a single word"[8]
- To create the feeling that the author is playing a game with his readers
- For artistic purposes
- For humorous effect
References edit
- ↑ Lokrantz, Jessie Thomas. The Underside of the Weave: Some Stylistic Devices Used by Vladimir Nabokov. Uppsala. Doctoral dissertation at Uppsala University, 1973. Print. p. 10
- ↑ Lokrantz, Jessie Thomas. The Underside of the Weave: Some Stylistic Devices Used by Vladimir Nabokov. Uppsala. Doctoral dissertation at Uppsala University, 1973. Print. p. 45
- ↑ Nabokov, Vladimir. 1989. Lolita. New York: Vintage International. Print p. 58
- ↑ Nabokov, Vladimir. 1989. Lolita. New York: Vintage International. Print p. 43
- ↑ Nabokov, Vladimir. 1989. Lolita. New York: Vintage International. Print p. 53
- ↑ Nabokov, Vladimir. 1989. Lolita. New York: Vintage International. Print p. 106
- ↑ Lokrantz, Jessie Thomas. The Underside of the Weave: Some Stylistic Devices Used by Vladimir Nabokov. Uppsala. Doctoral dissertation at Uppsala University, 1973. Print. p. 59
- ↑ Lokrantz, Jessie Thomas. The Underside of the Weave: Some Stylistic Devices Used by Vladimir Nabokov. Uppsala. Doctoral dissertation at Uppsala University, 1973. Print. p. 10