The difference in Nabokov's banal aspects to his writing in his first chapter of Lolita as opposed to a writer that, for instance, was consciously looking to make a character relatable, is that Nabokov is actually creating distance between the reader and the true madness of his first person character. As noted throughout the readings, and within our class discussions thus far, Nabokov's fascination with games leads him to play games with the reader. Also his noted interest in theatre has identified theatrical effects within his writing, as noted in the introduction. This could create problems with learning the identity of the characters, they seem to be trying on different "masks". I feel that he exercises both of these concepts in the beginning. The first person protagonist goes on about his tortured love which may be seen as a banal approach to the subject, but in giving a bit of a "wink" to the reader (or audience) about his prose, the protagonist is obviously self consciously writing.
In this way Humbert Humbert is responsible for the banality, not Nabokov, and it has been expressed that it is something he is doing on purpose. The reader sees that although the said "banality" is there in the first chapter, it is very purposely there, not to sincerely reach the audience baring the soul of the protagonist but to create allusion. In the introduction to this book, it quotes Nabokov in Speak, Memory, he compares the composition of a chess problem to that of writing in first person, particularly first person in an account of one's isolating and difficult memoir. It is also noted that The Enchanted wasn't published not because of the content, but because the third person narration made the groundwork to Lolita lack the depth that Lolita had. Nabokov states that the book also had the nymphet without a "voice." He had done extensive research on who the main character's fantasy nymphet would be, (some very unconventional research) and it was important to him that she wasn;t simply a prop but an organic character made "from scratch".
Obviously Nabokov is very concerned with the complexity and depth of his characters and wants them to embody a full personality so he can be distanced as an author, this is one of the ways they say he is a "puppeteer". The originality of Lolita is said to be the game-like combination of deeply moving the reader and engaging them, maybe at times with seemingly banal content and beautiful prose, but also confusing them and adding distance when "verbal figurations" make things more confusing and the madness deepen of the character he creates, destroying the value of the banality but in a way also strengthening it. Could the banality be the "pawns" on his chess board? He introduces the protagonist as hopelessly in love, a brooder and a poet, a slave to his vices and obviously in a lot of trouble. This could be considered typical material for a dramatic novel but that is very purposeful. As it has been discussed in class, as well as in the introduction to this book and other readings, Nabokov tirelessly pays attention to detail and has endless intention behind each thing he creates. This also has been noted in his personal character, his fantastic memory of his past students to his desire to have all of his interview answers written before being submitted. Nabokov is not impulsive with what he creates and is methodical about where he reveals and keeps his distance, much like the game player that he is said to be.
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