Lolita.

I'm reading Vladimir Nabakov's Lolita, and naturally (albeit creepily), I started thinking about the dynamics of statutory rape. Once a person is beyond the age of eighteen, they are free to embark on just about any romantic venture, regardless of its merit or value -- in terms of respect, love, mutualism, friendship, etc. Any younger than eighteen, though, and Chris Hansen of Dateline NBC is liable to roll out with the cameramen and cybersexy AIM transcripts.

Laws that apply age restrictions to "love" are intended to prevent the subversive desires of "adults" for "children." It's inarguable. Children in these cases are victims, whether consenting or not.

In Lolita, who was the victim, Humbert or Dolores? Hum, a child in his own right, debilitated by a tragically crippling childhood romance, was under the whim and will of the malicious, bratty, pre-pubescent apple of his eye. Is it wrong to feel sympathy for him as he recounts his tale? Though it's a far stretch in comparison to to actual statutory relations, one of the most disgusting things in the world to me is sexed up pre-teens. Not the "lolitas" that Nabakov describes as naturally emanating some allure to older men, but the 12 year old MySpacing Miley Cyrus wannabes, baring midriffs and using self-defining adjectives like "hot" and "sexy." Sexy does not exist at age 12. But if an older, knowing, manipulative man reinforces that idea to this little pseudo-nymphet, she gullibly is putty in his perverted hands. Do these girls know better, or are they simply thrilled at the adult attention? Are they aware of their apparent immaturity, or are they too busy basking in some false notion of maturity ("you're so smart for your age," "you don't look your age," etc.).

Power control is the biggest issue in these sickening scenarios. Who of the two truly has a grasp on what is going on? Who has evil intentions?


Think back to the movie Hard Candy, from Ellen Page's pre-Juno days. She played a whip-smart and malevolent adolescent, torturing a would-be online "predator," eventually forcing him to commit suicide. Feigning the role of a ditzy weak young teen girl, the man took the bait and invited her over, offering her drinks after meeting up and even permitting a little flashing of the (probably training) bra. Lolita to the ninth power, plus a murderous gaze and a fake castration? Page's character wasn't the victim, but represented the other girls who would have been (and the girl who actually was). The guy was the victim, but were we as the audience to feel sympathy for him?

What about the middle-aged white women who start relationships with their male high school students? Is their proclaimed "love" disputable due to the age differences?

What about the eighteen year old boy who has sex with a seventeen year old girl? Is that rape?

Is everything black and white, or are there shades of gray?