Annabel Leigh Character Analysis in Lolita

Humbert Humbert’s childhood love, and Lolita’s predecessor in his imagination. She and Humbert Humbert come close to having sex in a beachside cave, but are interrupted by two men. Not long after, she dies of typhoid before they can consummate their love. Annabel’s name and character come from a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, “Annabel Lee,” which is also about a beloved young girl who dies early.

Annabel Leigh Character Timeline in Lolita

The timeline below shows where the character Annabel Leigh appears in Lolita. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

At thirteen, Humbert Humbert has his first romance. The girl is Annabel, the daughter of a family friend. He complains that he can no longer visualize her... (full context)

Humbert Humbert asks himself what connection there might be between his young romance with Annabel and his adult obsession with Lolita. Were these normal pubescent feelings, or did his perverse... (full context)

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...Humbert is immediately overpowered by passionate feelings. He imagines that Lolita is the reincarnation of Annabel. (full context)