Inspite of the importance of learning more about Nabokov's sources, I
hesitate to conclude, with Fran Assa, that "VN did his research.
Looks like HH clearly has the clinical marks of a standard
pedophile."
In the first place, Humbert Humbert is not a clinical case, but a
fictional character. Secondly, after H.Ellis's work there have been
many other researches about pedophilia and, I think, one shouldn't
be too categorical about what makes "the standard
pedophile." In my opinion, if Humbert Humbert fits the bill as a
pedophile or not, should make little difference when we try to evaluate what
specific "pedophile" Humbert Humbert appears to have been.
For the curious, I recommend one of Joyce McDougall's books. In the
internet I only found a reference to "Perversion," but I have another book
in mind. I believe it's "Art and Perversion." and I'll look for more precise
details soon.
-----Mensagem Original-----
Enviada em: sexta-feira, 2 de março de
2012 23:27
Assunto: [NABOKV-L] NABOKV-L] Nabokov and
Twelve-Year-Old Girls ...
EDNote--
This fascinating thread leads in many different
directions, none of which currently has me thinking in conclusive terms.
Fran Assa's post below reminds me of the value of reconsidering Nabokov's
source in Havelock Ellis's work in its French edition, Etudes de
Psychologie Sexuelle, VI, (Paris, 1926), which Edmund Wilson sent him in
June 1948--very close to the time when he was beginning serious work on
Lolita. See Dear Bunny, Dear Volodya p. 228 &
229n1.
~SB
Pedophilia
per Wikipedia: "The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders 4th edition Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) outlines specific criteria for
use in the diagnosis of this disorder. These include the presence of sexually
arousing fantasies, behaviors or urges that involve some kind of sexual
activity with a prepubescent child (age 13 or younger, though onset of puberty
may vary) for six months or more, and that the subject has acted on these
urges or suffers from distress as a result of having these
feelings. The criteria also indicate that the subject should be 16 or
older and that the child or children they fantasize about are at least five
years younger than them, though ongoing sexual relationships between a 12-13
year old and a late adolescent are advised to be excluded...."
VN did
his research. Looks like HH clearly has the clinical marks of
a standard pedophile. The definition allows him to feel distress, which,
I suppose, is inseparable from remorse.