The Convergence of Morality & Aesthetics In Nabokov's Lolita, Marteiały do pracy, Lolita
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AESTHETIC EXCUSES AND MORAL CRIMES:
THE CONVERGENCE OF MORALITY AND AESTHETICS IN NABOKOV”S
LOLITA
by
JENNIFER ELIZABETH GREEN
Under the Direction of Paul Schmidt
ABSTRACT
This thesis examines the debate between morality and aesthetics that is
outlined by Nabokov in
Lolita
’s afterword. Incorporating a discussion of
Lolita
’s
critical history in order to reveal how critics have chosen a single, limited side of
the debate, either the moral or aesthetic, this thesis seeks to expose the
complexities of the novel where morality and aesthetics intersect. First, the
general moral and aesthetic features of
Lolita
are discussed. Finally, I address the
two together, illustrating how
Lolita
cannot be categorized as immoral, amoral, or
didactic. Instead, it is through the juxtaposition of form and content, parody and
reality, that the intersection of aesthetics and morality appears, subverting and
repudiating the voice of its own narrator and protagonist, evoking sympathy for
an appropriated and abused child, and challenging readers to evaluate their own
ethical boundaries.
INDEX WORDS: Nabokov, Lolita, Morality, Aesthetics, Ethics, Parody,
Appropriation, Solipsism, Abuse, Criticism, Exploitation,
Pedophilia, Genre, Convention, Allusion, Romance, Love
story, Doppelganger, Detective, Confession, Folklore
AESTHETIC EXCUSES AND MORAL CRIMES:
THE CONVERGENCE OF MORALITY AND AESTHETICS IN NABOKOV’S
LOLITA
by
JENNIFER ELIZABETH GREEN
A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of
Master of Arts
in the College of Arts and Sciences
Georgia State University
2006
Copyright by
Jennifer Elizabeth Green
2006
AESTHETIC EXCUSES AND MORAL CRIMES:
THE CONVERGENCE OF MORALITY AND AESTHETICS IN NABOKOV’S
LOLITA
by
JENNIFER ELIZABETH GREEN
Major Professor: Paul Schmidt
Committee: Marti Singer
Chris Kocela
Matthew Roudané
Electronic Version Approved:
Office of Graduate Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
Georgia State University
May 2006
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ……………………………………………………………
1
Morality and
Lolita
…………………………………………………….
6
The Intersection of Morality and Aesthetics…………………………
27
Conclusion……………………………………………………………...
52
Works Cited…………………………………………………………… 55
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