Humbert Humbert is an extremely disturbed man. Reading Lolita through the psychoanalytical lens had made me look for specific traits in Humberts character. Throughout the beginning chapters of his story, Humbert speaks about his life, and his encounters with the women in his life. Many of the 'women' he speaks about are not women at all, but young girls. Young innocent children, his targets, potential victims, and his victims.
However, reading through the psychoanalytical lens makes me realize that those that I identify as victims to this horrible man, are seen through a different light in his eyes. He does not see these children as victims. When he speaks of Monique, the "nymphet" he speaks of his attraction to her, of how she made him feel specifically because of how she looked. He does not see her mentality, her as a victim, her feelings. He just sees what he wants to see. He does however mention earlier that he would never mess with a child's "innocence", and that makes me think, does he believe he is not doing wrong considering he does have some sort of 'moral'?
His objectification of young girls only goes as far as pursuing sexual relations when the younger party willingly goes along with it. (Monique, and eventually Lolita). I use the word 'willingly' very loosely here because of the age and power dynamic that is present in these relationships. Especially with Monique, due to her being a, possibly underage, prostitute. What are the psychological effects of her doing this job, and what are the reasons behind her pursuing this job in the first place at such a young age? We don't get to know this, because again, we are reading through Humbert Humbert's eyes. He doesn't consider these thoughts, because of his attraction, and because he see's her doing this job as her full consent.
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