**TL;DR — Novels' protagonists' actions are glorified, Lolita is no exception** Humbert Humbert is the novel's protagonist, thus, regardless of Nabokov's intention to show him as a flawed character and unreliable narrator, the bulk of Lolita serves to explain, humanize, and justify Humbert's paedophilia. There are many interpretations of Nabokov's _broader_ goal for the novel—an extremely detailed work of prose; a test of the reader's tolerance for paedophilia; a long-form and intricate condemnation of paedophilia—the fundamental structure of the book as a novel _requires_ the reader to empathize with the protagonist and his actions. The glorification of paedophilia is materially evident in the cultural impact Lolita has had. "Lolita", the nickname of the 12-year-old character, as a term has been co-opted into the mainstream as a representation of youthful sexuality and beauty, in pornography (see "Lolicon") and fashion, for example.

**TL;DR The book itself does not glorify paedophilia, but some of its readers do** Nobody could interpret Humbert Humbert as a good man. Vladimir Nabokov’s presentation of his [unreliable narrator](https://muse.jhu.edu/article/16635) in _Lolita_ is so extreme that is almost parody – his voice is at once grandiose and pathetic, and Nabokov uses it to emphasise Humbert’s arrogance, manipulation, and delusion. Our understanding of Humbert as unreliable ascribes his actions with immorality: we condemn his false marriage to Charlotte, his murder of Clare Quilty, and above all, his paedophilia towards Dolores. Nabokov presents paedophilia as evil and destructive. At the end of the novel, both Humbert and his Lolita are dead. We learn that after leaving Humbert, Dolores is dragged into a cycle of sexual abuse: after leaving Quilty, she falls into poverty and must rely on Humbert’s monetary support, eventually dying in childbirth aged 17. During their last encounter, even Humbert can see that he has ruined Dolores’ life. There is no glory here. However, the complexity of the novel’s moral depictions comes with its language and syntax. Nabokov’s writing is so lyrically seductive, chock-a-block with alliteration, wordplay, and snippets of other languages, that at times the reader can sympathise with Humbert, but the structure of the novel prevents Humbert’s redemption. Some readers have understood [_Lolita_ as a love story](https://steemit.com/literature/@cristiancaicedo/lolita-book-a-love-story-between-obsession-and-scandal) because the character of Humbert romanticises his paedophilia – even when he realises the immorality of his sexual actions towards Dolores, he still maintains that he loves her. However, any astute reader will understand that Nabokov’s use of narrative completely undermines Humbert’s romantic statements and condemns paedophilia. It takes two to be in love, and Humbert’s first person narrative completely [excludes the feelings of the actual Lolita](https://www.bustle.com/p/i-re-read-lolita-in-the-age-of-metoo-im-no-longer-standing-for-its-overt-misogyny-9567151). It is therefore not _Lolita_ that glorifies paedophilia, but some of its mis-readers who interpret it as a love story.

**TL;DR** — **Lolita humanises a paedophile which makes for an unsettling read.** _Lolita_ is defined and irreparably coloured by the (notoriously unreliable) first person narrator, Humbert Humbert, and his obsession with Dolores (Lolita). No one would seek to deny that the themes of _Lolita_ are dark and controversial. However, to simply define it as glorifying paedophilia is to do the work a disservice. The book is more of a character study that takes readers inside the mind of a broken individual. Humbert’s obsession and desire for Lolita reveal the psyche of a paedophile and the ends to which he goes in order to fulfil his desires. Furthermore, to say that _Lolita_ glorifies paedophilia would be to say that Humbert’s behaviour is validated. There is little indication of this as the book dispassionately depicts the behaviour of paedophile. Viewing the book as glorifying paedophile is the result of the reader’s interpretation. This leads to a wider discussion of the applications of literary theory to the text. In its essence, literary theory comprises various disciplines which, when applied to readings of a text, provide alternative understandings of the text. In this case, it is a question of the role of the reader and authorial intent. Understanding _Lolita_ as glorifying paedophilia comes as a result of inferring Nabokov’s intention when writing the book. This is impossible. Readers draw their own understandings for their readings of the text. To that end, _Lolita_ discusses paedophilia by having the protagonist as a paedophile. However, understanding the text as glorifying paedophilia is a result of the reader, not the text itself.