Lolita

Lolita

by

Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita: Part 2, Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Humbert Humbert and Lolita move into a house in Beardsley. When he goes to speak to Headmistress Pratt of the local girls’ school, he is horrified by its “modern,” curriculum, which stresses practical skills and preparing girls for the world of dating, marriage, and homemaking. Reluctantly, he decides to enroll Lolita.
As always, Humbert is horrified by the ordinary world of domestic life—especially suburban American life. As an intellectual and student of literature, he cannot bear to think that Lolita will only be learning practical skills. At the same time, his concerns are prosaic and base and truly vulgar: he is also worried about her dating, because of his jealousy.
Themes
Suburbia and American Consumer Culture Theme Icon