Big News in the 50s
Humbert referenced some events that were happening in America during the 1950s throughout the story. Here are some of the stories or stories that apply to the novel Lolita . Flu Causing Schools to Close (1947) On page 40 in the novel, Humbert refers to a flu outbreak that was so bad that the local schools needed to be closed. This was one of the events that are noted in the book that is actually true. There was a big flu outbreak in 1947 that caused many schools to close until the sickness blew over. Not all of the references found in Lolita are true events since Humbert has created his own reality in his mind. Readers can’t be sure which details are facts or make-believe until they research them. Humbert’s suicide (1950s) The suicide rates for people in the 1950s is very similar to what the rate is for today (2016). This shows that the suicide of Humbert wouldn’t have been shocking for readers or uncommon for the time. It’s reasonable that Humbert would be thinking abou