What is it that makes a character likeable? Why the hell is Humbert so likeable despite clearly being a villain? Why don't we like some other virtuous characters that perhaps we ought to, while meanwhile liking deplorable or ruinous ones? There has to be more to it than simply having an impact on the plot.
>>25558061>Why the hell is Humbert so likeableBecause he's funny. That's literally it.
>>25558070But there are plenty of likeable characters that aren't funny. Aren't there?
>>25558061I just viewed him as kind of a lolcow, I like him in the same vein I like Chris Chan
>>25558175>Chris ChanThe leader of the transsexual movement?
He's not likable. the prose is just good and its playful and seductive prose makes you want to fuck children.
Guys, the thread was more about likeable characters in a general sense, not just Humbert. That was just an example.
>>25558114There are other ways to be likeable, being funny is just a good way to do it while also being an asshole. I think he's actually pretty hard to like, a pretentious and annoying, all-around simp. It's a testament to Nabokov's writing ability and sense of humor that anyone is able to like Humbert at all
I like how he hates Americans with passion. Every other page he goes on a rant about how Americans are unfashionable and ignorant.
>>25558061Anon Lolita is my favourite book and I've read it like 10+ times including the annotated version and a few translations, and I'm a member of the Nabokov Society and I have published some articles about Lolita and no matter how you look at it, H.H. is not meant to be a likeable character. He's not a villain either, he's just lucky and incompetent. Comedic and tragic. He's the Olsen Gang of hebephilia.
