Lolita

Innocence and experience function on different levels in Lolita. The novel is primarily concerned with sexual innocence, in terms of its attraction for Humbert and, from Lolita's point of view, the dangers of being subjected to adult experiences at too young an age. But these themes also have legal connotations: Humbert writes Lolita from prison, where he is awaiting trial for killing Quilty, so the memoir gives him an opportunity to account for his experiences and, should he choose to, proclaim his innocence.

Lolita's innocence is an important part of what attracts Humbert. The lure lies in the discrepancy between his age ...