60 pages 2 hours read

Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1955

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Part 1, Chapters 16-24Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Chapter 16 Summary

As Charlotte drives Lolita to camp, Humbert plays with Lolita’s underwear. He hears the maid’s voice and composes himself; she hands him a letter from Charlotte in which she confesses her love to him and demands that he leave her residence unless he reciprocates her feelings. She says he would be worse than a person who kidnaps and rapes a child if he were to lead her on. Humbert recreates the letter for the reader as best as he can but admits that he threw the original in the toilet. When he goes back into Lolita’s room, he sees clippings from magazines on the wall. On one picture of a famous person, he notes the resemblance to himself and that she has written in block letters “H.H.” (69). 

Part 1, Chapter 17 Summary

Humbert admits that marrying Charlotte to stay close to Lolita has crossed his mind. He realizes that such a marriage would allow him proximity to Lolita and considers drugging both Charlotte and Lolita with sleeping pills so he can touch Lolita while she sleeps.

At this point, he admits he will no longer insult Charlotte to the reader for the sake of honesty. He calls the camp and speaks with Lolita on the phone, as Charlotte has already departed.