Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov and The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley are two great stories that depict certain relationships between adults and children. These stories have many similarities and differences, but one main characteristic that separates the two stories is the manner of the children in the books. Today I will share my view on how childhood innocence plays a role in the relationships and consequences of the relationships between the characters of the books Lolita and The Go-Between.
Lolita and Leo are similar in the fact that they are both fatherless children being raised by their mothers. Other than that, Leo is a young lower class boy that attends an all boy school. He has a very innocent personality. He did not even recognize the beauty …show more content…
Leo has an innocent school boy crush on Marian. Their relationship is more verbal and one-sided. Marian uses this crush for her advantage, verballing hurting Leo when he decides not to continue with her plans. Marian plays along and flirts with Leo to make him feel important, but in the end the only sexual relationship is between Marian and Ted. Lolita’s not so innocent personality and fear of being along leads her to having a physical and emotional sexual relationship with H.H. She might have initiated intercourse to get back at her mother for not wanting her, or to show H.H that she was fond of him. After learning that her mother had passed, Lolita had an opportunity to run, but instead she stayed with H.H. and continued to please him in return for gifts and trips to the theaters. She did not respond like a child that was being held hostage and raped, instead she played along like a child wife. During one of Lolita’s last conversation with H.H. she would say, “Oh, don’t cry, I’m so sorry I cheated so much, but that’s the way that things are” (Nabokov 279). This could lead readers to believe that Lolita thought that they had a real relationship. These relationships that Lolita and Leo had with H.H. and Marian were very different, but they were alike in the sense that both children were being used to benefit the adults’ needs and
Lolita and Leo are similar in the fact that they are both fatherless children being raised by their mothers. Other than that, Leo is a young lower class boy that attends an all boy school. He has a very innocent personality. He did not even recognize the beauty …show more content…
Leo has an innocent school boy crush on Marian. Their relationship is more verbal and one-sided. Marian uses this crush for her advantage, verballing hurting Leo when he decides not to continue with her plans. Marian plays along and flirts with Leo to make him feel important, but in the end the only sexual relationship is between Marian and Ted. Lolita’s not so innocent personality and fear of being along leads her to having a physical and emotional sexual relationship with H.H. She might have initiated intercourse to get back at her mother for not wanting her, or to show H.H that she was fond of him. After learning that her mother had passed, Lolita had an opportunity to run, but instead she stayed with H.H. and continued to please him in return for gifts and trips to the theaters. She did not respond like a child that was being held hostage and raped, instead she played along like a child wife. During one of Lolita’s last conversation with H.H. she would say, “Oh, don’t cry, I’m so sorry I cheated so much, but that’s the way that things are” (Nabokov 279). This could lead readers to believe that Lolita thought that they had a real relationship. These relationships that Lolita and Leo had with H.H. and Marian were very different, but they were alike in the sense that both children were being used to benefit the adults’ needs and