Adolescence Quote by Vladimir Nabokov
““There are few physiques I loathe more than the heavy low-slung pelvis, thick calves and deplorable complexion of the average coed (in whom I see, maybe, the coffin of coarse female flesh within which my nymphets are buried alive).””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Lolita, 1955 (excerpt)
The narrator despises certain female body types, describing them in grotesque terms.
In simple terms: He expresses strong aversion to a specific physique.
Key Takeaway
Question harmful stereotypes and objectification.
Themes
body image
objectification
literary style
Mood
critical
disapproving
Type
literary
analytical
When to use this quote
- fashion critique
- literary analysis
- social commentary
Key Concepts
masculine desire
aesthetic judgment
Questions to Reflect On
- Why does the narrator fixate on physical traits?
- How does this reflect broader societal attitudes?
A Different Perspective
Such language can perpetuate misogyny.
![“...under no circumstances would he [Humbert Humbert] have interfered with the innocence of a child, if there was the least risk of a row.” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0f0/vladimir-nabokov-198_children_under-no-circumstances-would-he-humbert_16228.jpg)
![“I remember realizing, when I did Little Women [1994], that that was the only time girls that age were being written about. It was always boys - from David Copperfield to Lord of the Flies to Holden Caulfield. There were never young women going through adolescence or teen years; there were only…” quote by Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/666/winona-ryder-1469_adolescence_i-remember-realizing-when-i-did-little-w_41784.jpg)