Historical Context of Lolita
Post-War America: The Setting of Desire
Nabokov's "Lolita" is deeply embedded in the landscape of post-World War II America, a time of profound social and cultural transformation. The novel's setting in the late 1940s and early 1950s provides crucial context for understanding Humbert Humbert's narrative.
NoteThe America portrayed in Lolita is one of motels, highways, and consumer culture - all symbols of the post-war economic boom that transformed the nation.
The American Road Trip
The novel's extensive road trip sequences reflect the growing mobility of American society:
- The interstate highway system was expanding
- Car ownership was becoming universal
- Motor hotels (motels) were sprouting up across the country
Humbert and Lolita's cross-country journeys mirror this cultural phenomenon:
"We had been everywhere. We had really seen nothing. And I catch myself thinking today that our long journey had only defiled with a sinuous trail of slime the lovely, trustful, dreamy, enormous country."
Cultural Climate of the 1950s
Teen Culture and Sexuality
The 1950s saw the emergence of teenage culture as a distinct social phenomenon:
- Rise of bobby-soxers and teen idols
- Growing concern about juvenile delinquency
- Tension between traditional morality and new sexual attitudes
Understanding the emergence of teen culture helps readers grasp why Humbert's obsession with youth culture is both timely and disturbing within the novel's context.
Consumer Society
The novel critiques American consumer culture through:
- References to advertisements
- Popular magazines
- Hollywood movies
- Commercial products
