THE CHANGES IN THE CRITICISM PARADIGM OF LOLITA BY NABOKOV

Abstract

This study presents theoretical readings about the novel Lolita (1958), by Vladimir Nabokov throughout the history of its criticism. More specifically, our aim was to demonstrate how the theoretical paradigm broke in the readings of the novel. Around the publication of the work there had been many reviews in newspapers and magazines, followed by a first brief moment in which the criticism treated the novel as a love plot. Formalistic readings, focused on textual aspects such as parody, were highly widespread in the 1960s and 1970s. After the author's death in the late 1970s, and with the advancement of Cultural Studies in the following decade, the criticism completely changed its focus. Then, it has emerged readings that mostly focused on the ethical aspects of the work, such as the abuse. We have based our research on the studies of Barthes (2005), Clegg (2000) and Connolly (2009).