The Importance of Intertext in “Lolita”

Abstract

This paper focuses on intertexts in Vladimir Nabokov’s literary works, with a main emphasis on Edgar Allan Poe’s allusions in “Lolita”. Nabokov did not like to be referred to as a writer who was influenced by another one, let alone Edgar Allan Poe who had always been subject to debate due to his strange and difficult life and behavior. He used to be taken as an example when it comes to analyzing Sigmund Freud’s study cases. American writers were not the ones Nabokov liked most but Edgar Allan Poe could not be part of that list because Nabokov indirectly showed his affection for him in many of his literary works. “Lolita”, the masterpiece of Nabokov, wouldn’t have been so famous unless we had had Poe’s parody. A part of Lolita’s name is inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee” and this poem is also alluded in the novel. You cannot understand “Lolita” unless you have read Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee”. The prevailing themes such as death love and beauty are present in both “Anabel Lee” and “Lolita”. The intertexts in Nabokov’s literary works help scholars have a deeper insight study into the principles of Nabokov’s aesthetics.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015.v5n3p217