从接受美学角度论《洛丽塔》中的空白和读者再创造

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Ｉｆｍ乂碁确參爹－響顯ｉ戀ｆ巧議證售：榮誦ｉ薩誦＇．：两：．鲁在Ｖ‘．也麵賴纖議！．－、、暴难祿歡：；＇，．．．，、一：：，／：－：：Ｖ：：；：ｓ、、＇？‘＇、，、＂．，＾’？：‘护右排．，：：封醉、；九飄离孩苗咕靜苦斬记．诚、－；嘴聲靡變ｉ；提＼冷Ｉ：；；ｉ纖諭’擊帛｜＇＇一‘’■觀讀．ｔ纖義媛薦、＇：‘＇．．．＇，＇．，＇＇．；々心轉啤、－：＾巧ｖ中＾＇、如＞？．心．．．山叶乃ｒ＼、＾铃＇试’＿芯片＞嘴，、Ｖ’，、、：＾祥八啤’：＊系庭墙餐打呼ｔ记个成＞＂、．＇—＇＇解‘５始社；净Ｌ：’帛雞與汽．．．’？．．．＇；；‘，．纖難觀敎；：，Ｉ＇’嗎挺馨－‘、‘＇．；；二＇＾：％．哨节辦Ｖ纖鸣？疫＇酵．；ｉｉｉｉ：．麵議瞧；一議ｉｉｉｉ＇ｌ＂．巧＾龜巧Ｔ．非靖議議纖战誦鑛、感簇、寧翁、’＇＂、．－、抹；．篡ｙｉＢ：换始照漱；Ｗ 分类号：学校代码：10165密级：学号：201211000555硕士学位论文从接受美学角度论《洛丽塔》中的空白和读者再创造AnAnalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics作者姓名：丁莉学科、专业：英语语言文学研究方向：英美文学导师姓名：谷野平2015年5月 AnAnalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsDingLiAThesisSubmittedinPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsFortheDegreeofMASTEROFARTSSchoolofForeignLanguagesLIAONINGNORMALUNIVERSITY2015 学位论文独创性声明。本人承诺：所呈交的学位论文是本人在导师指导下所取得的研究成果论文中除特别加Ｗ标注和致谢的地方外，不包含他人和其他机构已经撰写或发表过的研究成果，其他同志的研究成果对本人的启示和所提供的帮助，均已在论文中做了明确的声明并表示谢意。学位论文作者签名：了气学位论文版权的使用授权书本学位论文作者完全了解迁宁师范大学有关保留、使用学位论文的规定，及学校有权保留并向国家有关部口或机构送交复印件或磁盘，允许论文被查阅和借阅。本文授权迂宁师范大学，可将学位论文的全部或部分内容编入有关数据库并进行检索，，可Ｗ采用影印、缩印或扫描等复制手段保存、汇编学位论文并且一本人电子文档的内容和纸质论文的内容相致。保密的学位论文在解密后使用本授权书。学位论文作者签名：了句指导教师签名：签名曰期：ｊＴ年月知曰Ｖｆ 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文摘要接受美学兴起于20世纪60年代后期，并在70年代达到高潮，它直接源于解释学和现象学文论。它将读者直接纳入了文学研究的范畴，创建了文本和读者的关系的研究模式，使文学研究的中心由作者，文本转向读者，开辟了一种新的文学批评方法。弗拉基米尔.纳博科夫（VladimirNabokov），俄裔美国作家，1899年出生于俄罗斯圣彼得堡。纳博科夫于1955年发表了《洛丽塔》，国内外学者及评论家从不同的角度研究了《洛丽塔》，主要集中在小说道德主题，后现代主义特征，虚构现实观等不同角度。然而，以往的研究更多集中在对文本和作者的研究，却未指出读者与文本的关系，忽略了读者在阅读时的感受以及地位。本文运用了接受美学理论探讨了《洛丽塔》中的空白和读者再创造，强调读者在阅读过程当中的作用，以此来更进一步理解小说。本篇论文由五章组成，即引言、三章正文和结论。第一章是引言部分，包括对弗拉基米尔.纳博科夫的生平、作品的介绍以及《洛丽塔》的情节概括，最后是对国外和国内的学术性研究成果以及本文的创新点和创作意义的综述。第二章是理论部分，阐述本文的理论视角，主要介绍了接受美学的发展历程及背景，着重介绍接受美学中的两个重要概念，空白理论和读者再创造理论。第三章是主要运用依瑟尔的空白理论来分析《洛丽塔》中的空白艺术，包括语义空白和结构空白。在语义空白上，纳博科夫主要采用了文字游戏，反讽和戏仿来引起读者的思考，在结构空白上，纳博科夫又采用了多重叙事和主人公缺失的手法来激发读者想象，召唤读者积极参与到小说文本中。第四章是从姚斯的读者再创造理论角度分析了在阅读《洛丽塔》的过程中，读者的期待视野如何被超越。小说中主人公的特殊性以及对传统小说主题的颠覆，独特的写作技巧都打破了读者的期待视野，不断刺激读者在阅读过程当中进行思考和重新构思。第五章是结构部分，对《洛丽塔》中的空白和读者再创造进行总结，再次肯定了读者在小说创作中的地位和作用，也证明了《洛丽塔》的伟大。关键词：《洛丽塔》；接受美学；空白理论；读者再创造-I- AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsAnAnalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsAbstractReceptionaestheticsarisesfromtheendof1960sandachievesitsclimaxat1970swhichisbasedonphenomenologyandhermeneutics.Ittakesreadersintoconsiderationinliteraturestudy,breakingthetraditionalauthor-textstudymodeandestablishingtext-readerresearchparadigm.Thebirthofreceptionaestheticsopensupanewcriticalapproachforliteraturestudy.VladimirNabokov(1899-1977)wasaRussian-bornAmericanliterarymaster,whohadbeenrecognizedassuccessfulandfruitfulinseveralfields.NabokovwasbornonApril22，1899inSaintPetersburgofCzaristRussian,toawealthyandprominentfamilyofminornobility.Hehadcreatedmanyworks,whileLolitawasthemostcontroversialoneforhim.ItisLolitathatmakeshimfamousintheliteraturefieldallaroundtheworld.Thereareanumberofresearcherstryingtoanalyzethisnovelfromdifferentperspectives.Andithasbeenthroughdifferentperiods,too.Ongeneral,thestudiesmainlyfocusonthreecategories.Thefirstisaboutthenovel’stheme.Thesecondisaboutthenovel’spostmodernismfeatureswhichexploresthenovelfromtheperspectiveoflanguageskills,techniques,aswellasstructuresandsoon.Andthethirdisdiscussedfromtheperspectiveofestheticism.However,mostoftheresearchesfocusonthestudyofthetextandtheauthors,failingtopointouttherelationshipbetweenreadersandthetextandignorethefeelingandpositionofthereadersduringthereadingprocess.Inthisthesis,theauthorwantstoanalyzetheblanksandreaders’reconstructioninLolitafromtheperspectiveofreceptionaesthetics,andemphasizethereaders’importantrolesinthereadingprocess.ItishelpfulforthefurtherunderstandingofLolita.Thisthesisconsistsoffivechapters.Thefirstoneisintroduction,thenthreechaptersforthemainbodyandthelastconclusion.ThefirstchaptergivesabriefintroductiontoVladimirNabokovandhisliteraryachievementsandtheplotofLolita.Besides,italsodescribesthepreviousstudiesonLolitainChinaaswellasabroadandthefeasibilityandsignificanceofthisstudy.Thesecondchapteristhetheoreticalfoundation.Itmainlyintroducesthebackground,thedevelopmentofreceptionaestheticsandsomerelativevitalconceptions,especiallytheblanktheoryandreaders’reconstruction.ChapterthreeappliesIser’sblanktheorytointerprettheartofblanksinLolita,includingsemanticblanksandstructuralblanks.Inthesemanticblanks,Nabokovuseswordgames,ironyandparodytoarousereaders’reflection.Asforstructuralblanks,NabokovadoptsmultiplenarrativesandtheabsenceofLolitatoarousereaders’imagination,callingreaderstotakepart--II 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文inthenovelpositively.Chapterfouranalyzesthereconstructionofreaders’expectationofLolitafromtheperspectiveofJauss’horizonofexpectation.Thelovestorymeetsthereaders’readingexpectationwhilethebackgroundlimitsthereaders’horizonofexpectationgreatly.Whilethespecialtyofthemaincharactersandthesubversionofthethemesofthetraditionalnovelsandtheparticularwritingtechniquesallbreakreaders’horizonofexpectation,stimulatingreaderstorethinkandreconstructtheexpectationduringthereadingprocess.Thelastchapterofthepapercomestotheconclusion.Itsummarizestheblanksandreaders’reconstructioninLolitaandconfirmsreaders’importantroleduringthereadingprocess.ItalsoprovesLolita’svalue.KeyWords:Lolita;ReceptionAesthetics;BlankTheory;Readers’Reconstruction--III AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsTableofContents摘要.............................................................................................................................IAbstract.............................................................................................................................II1Introduction................................................................................................................11.1AnIntroductiontotheAuthorandtheWork.....................................................11.1.1AnIntroductiontoVladimirNabokov....................................................11.1.2AnIntroductiontoLolita........................................................................31.2LiteratureReview...............................................................................................51.2.1TheLatestFindingsAbroad....................................................................51.2.2TheLatestFindingsatHome..................................................................71.3ThesisStatement................................................................................................92TheoraticalFoudation............................................................................................112.1TheDefinitionofReceptionAesthetics...........................................................112.2TheBackgroundandFeaturesofReceptionAesthetics..................................122.3MajorConceptsinReceptionAesthetics.........................................................142.3.1BlankTheory.......................................................................................142.3.2Readers’Reconstruction......................................................................163TheSemanticBlanksandStructuralBlanksinLolita..........................................183.1SemanticBlanksinLolita..............................................................................183.1.1TheWordGamesintheNovel............................................................183.1.2TheIronyandParodyintheNovel.....................................................203.2StructuralBlanksinLolita.............................................................................213.2.1MultipleNarratives..............................................................................223.2.2TheAbsenceofLolita.........................................................................234TheReconstructionofReaders’HorizonofExpectation.....................................244.1Readers’HorizonofExpectation...................................................................244.1.1TheSocialBackground.......................................................................244.1.2ThePublics’ExpectationfromtheThemeoftheNovel.....................254.1.3TheReaders’ExpectationfromtheMainCharacters.........................264.2TheReconstructionofReaders’HorizonofExpectation..............................274.2.1SubversionoftheTraditionalLoveStory.............................................284.2.2UniqueArtisticTechnique-Symbolization...........................................295Conclusion.................................................................................................................32References........................................................................................................................34--IV 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文1IntroductionLolita，themostfamous,controversialandwidelydiscussedworkofNabokov,helpshimwintheinternationalfame.Ittalksaboutanabnormalromancebetweenamiddle-agedEuropeanmanandanAmericanteenagegirl,attractingthereaders’attentionfromdifferentcountriesanddifferenttimes.ThispaperintendstoexploreLolitafromtheperspectivesofthereceptionaestheticsbyHansRobertJauss,aimingtoanalyzetheblanksinthenovelandthereconstructionofthereaderswhilereadingit.1.1AnIntroductiontotheAuthorandtheWorkThebasicinformationincludestheintroductiontoVladimirNabokov,theplotofLolitaandtheliteraturereviewsbothatbroadandhome.Itwillbethefirststepfortheresearch,whichcanbeprovedtobeusefulforthisresearch.1.1.1AnIntroductiontoVladimirNabokovVladimirNabokov(1899-1977)wasaRussian-bornAmericanliterarymaster,whohadbeenrecognizedassuccessfulandfruitfulinseveralfields.Hewasawell-knownwriterandstylistwhocanuseRussianandEnglishatease.Besides,hewasalsoafamousresearcherinthefieldofbutterflystudywhohadfoundmanynewspeciesofbutterfliesbyhimself.What’smore,hewasthoughtasanexpertinthefieldofchess.Withsomuchexperience,therewasnowonderwhypeoplealwaysconnecteditwithhisgrotesquewritingstyles.ThesuccessofLolitaevenbringshiminternationalreputation.WhilenowNabokovisgenerallyrecognizedasoneofthefinestandmostinfluentialwritersin20thcenturyinAmericanliterature.Nabokovwasbornon22April1899inSaintPetersburgofCzaristRussian,toawealthyandprominentfamilyofminornobility.Hewastheeldestoffivechildren.Theirfatherwasaliberallayer,statesman,andjournalistnamedVladimirDmitrievichNabokovandtheirmotherwasElena.Nabokov’schildhood,whichhehadcalled“perfect”,wasremarkableinseveralways.TheyspokeRussian,EnglishandFrenchintheirhouseandinthiswayNabokovwastrilingualfromanearlyage.What’more,NabokovcouldreadandwriteinEnglishevenbeforehecouldinRussian,whichwasmuchhelpfultohislaterwritinginEnglish.Asearlyastheageofsixteen,NabokovpublishedStikhi,acollectionofhisfirstownpoetry.WhileifwesaythefirsteighteenyearsspentinRussianforNabokovwasperfectandremarkable,thememorydetailwaswarmandpreciousduringhislaterexilelife.Formtheyearof1917,everythingchanged.WithbreakoutofFebruaryRevolutionin1917,thefamilywasforcedtoleavesinceNabokov’sfatherbecamethesecretaryoftheRussianProvisionalGovernment.In1919,thefamilyleftforWesternEuropeandtheirexilelifehadbegunsincethen.Untiltheirdeath,theynevercameback.TheysettledfirstinEnglandandNabokovstudiedSlaviclanguageinTrinityCollegeandRomanceLanguageinCambridgeUniversity.Duringthistime,hebeguntowritenovelsandwrotedownthelife--1 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsexperiencefromRussiantoEngland.Aftertwoyears,thewholefamilymovedtoBerlin,wherehisfatherwasassassinatedbyRussianmonarchistsinMarch1922.Afterthat,NabokovmadehislivingbycoachingEnglish,Frenchandboxingtennis.Atthesametime,hehaswonhisreputationofarecognizedpoetandwriterinthenameofdeplumV.Sirin.Threeyearslater,Nabokovgotmarriedandhisonlysonbornatthesameyear.ThewholefamilymovedtoFranceandsettledinParisin1937.Buttheydidn’tstaythereforlong.Threeyearslater,NabokovescapedtoAmericawithhisfamilybeforeFrancewasovertakenbytheNazis.AlthoughNabokovwasrecognizedasaprolificwriterinEuropeandpublishedseveralnovels,shortstoriesandhundredspoems,theirarrivalinUnitedStatesmeanteverythinghadtobeginfromzero.HefirstlywasateacherteachingRussianelementaryatWellesleyCollege.WhileduringtheyearsinAmerican,healwaysmovedfromonecitytoanothercity,onecollegetoanothercollege.HekeptwritinginEnglishandatthesametimepursedhisresearchesonbutterflies.In1951,NabokovstartedtoworkonLolita.Aftertwoyears,Lolitawasfinished.BecauseofLolita’sspecialcontent,itwasfirstpublishedinFrancein1955.Thenthreeyearslater,itwaspublishedinAmerica.ThebigsuccessbroughtNabokovworld-wild-knownreputationandheresignedfromCornellCollegewiththefinancemadebyLolita.Sincethenhehaddevotedhimselftowriting.In1960NabokovreturnedtoEuropeandwentintotheMontreuxHotelinMontreux,Switzerland,wherehestayedtilltheendofhislifein1977.Duringthattime,hefinishedhisfamousworkPaleFirein1962andhisautobiographySpeckingMemoryin1983.Nabokovhadhisownattitudetowardsliterature.Hethoughtofliterarycreationasaformofmagic,agameofintricateenchantmentanddeception”.Asawriter,healwayscreatedafictitiousworldintheliteraturebook.Byusingalotofmagicartistictechniquesandsemanticblanksforthewordsandcomplexplot,thereaderscouldhaveabigspacetoexploreinthenovelandtheywereabletoexploreauthor’sheartsandappreciatedtheenjoymentofartthroughreading.Inthisway,readersarepartoftheworkandreadingisakindofenjoyment.InNabokov’sopinion,thereadershadtheauthoritythesameastheauthor.Hewasgreatlyinfluencedbythereceptionaesthetics,whichbelievedthatdifferentlivingexperienceandculturalbackgroundwouldformdifferentestheticexpectation.Soreadersindifferentcultureindifferenttimecouldfillintheworkwiththeirownunderstandings.Nabokovwasnotonlyafollowerofthereceptionaesthetics,butapractitioner.Withthinpointofview,therearemanyblanksinLolitaandthereaderscanhavetheirownunderstandingsofthisnovel.Besides,readersneedtoreconstructsomeexpectationsduringthereadingprocess.Becauseoffeelingapartofthenovel,readerswillbemoreinterestedinreadingfurther.ThereisnodoubtthatNabokov’slifewasfilledwithlegendarycolor.HewasborninRussianandeducatedinEuropeandhegothisreputationandfinanceintheUnitedStated.Atlast,hediedinEurope.Hewasalwaysonhiswayandneverstopped.--2 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文1.1.2AnIntroductiontoLolitaLolitaortheConfessionofaWhiteWidowedMaleisastoryaboutlove.Butitisalsoanabnormallovebetweenamiddle-agedman,HumbertHumbert,andhisstepdaughter,Lolita,whoisonlyfourteen.ThewholestoryisnarratedbyHumbertinchronologicalorder.ThestoryofLolitaissimple.HumbertHumbert,isamiddle-agdmanwithaContinentalEuropeanfatherandanEnglishmother.HewasborninParis.Whenhewasyoung,hefellinlovewithagirlnamedAnnabel.Butunfortunately,AnnabeldiedsuddenlyandHumbertlosthislove.Butfromthenon,Humberthadbeenobsessedwithapassionforwhathecalledthenymphets,orgirlsagedninetofourteen.WhenhemovedtoAmerica,helivesdividedlyinasealedworld.Asahalf-Englishandhalf-SwissEuropeanlivinginAmerica,hisheritageandlocationhadgoneandculturalsplitcreatedconflictswithhim.Thesedivisionscausedbyextrinsicelements.HehadnoplacetolivesohelivedinthehouseofCharlotteHaze.Inherhouse,hecameacrossHaze’sbeautifulyoungdaughter—Lolita.HefellinlovewithLolita.Lolitaisayounggirlwhoisbeautifulandlovely.SheliveswithhermotherandiseducatedinschoolwhoisapplyingPragmatismGrowingupinthe1950sofAmerica.Sheisgreatlyinfluencedbythesocietyenvironment.AmericanhasspreadveryquicklyaftertheWorldWarIIbutthelifeseemsverydull.ThepopularculturewasspreadinAmericaandithasclearlymadegreatinfluenceonthechild’slimitedexperience.BecauseHumbertalwayslivesinhismentalworldandimagination,hefantasizesLolitaashisideal“nymphet”.Inpursingthesocalledbeautyinhisownworld,hedeprivesLolitanotofherinnocence,butalsooftherightofgrowingupasanormalchild.SoLolitaremindhimofAnnabelandhelustsafterLolitaandflirtswithher.Atthesametime,MrsHazeadmiredhimandwishedtomarryhim.Atlast,HumbertagreedtomarryHazeonlybecausethismarriagecankeephimandLolitatogether.HumbertwrotedownallhisloveforLolitainhisdairywhichwasfoundbyMrsHazeonedayunexpectedly.Shecouldnotstandhishusband’sbehaviorandwantedtoconcealhim.Whenonherwayout,shediedinacaraccident.SoHumberttookovertheresponsibilityoftakingcareofLolitanaturally,whichmadehimfeelexcitedwithoutanyguilt.ThenHumbertspentyearstravellingfromonestatetoanotherwithLolitabycar.WhentheystayedintheEnchantedHuntersHotel,HumbertandLolitahadsexwitheachother,whichmadetheirrelationshipmorecomplex.ButforLolita,shecouldgetsomeawardsifshekeptthiskindofrelationshipwithhim.Whenshegrewup,Lolitawaseagerforanordinarygirl’slifeandfeltsickoftherelationshipbetweenherandhisstepfather.Soshechosetorunawaywithaplaywriter,ClareQuilty.HumbertlookedforLolitaeverywhereandfinallyaletterfromLolitamadehimknowthatshewasmarriedandwaswaitingforthebirthofherbaby.Attheverylast,hedecidedtoseeLolitaasshewas,wornoutandhugelypregnant.Yetwhenaskedifshewantedtogowithhim,Lolitarejected.Infact,therefusalisactuallythebiggestreproachof--3 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsHumbert’swrenchedtreatmentofher.ThisreplymadeHumbertrealizethathecannotpossesLolitaanylongerandheowedallthistoQuilty,whoisaplaywrightandwithwhomLolitafallsinlove.Atlast,hekilledQuiltyaftershootinghimnumeroustimestodeathforrevengeandgotarrestedhimself.Inprison,hefinishedhismemoir.Asasplitperson,Humbertisconstantlystrugglingbetweenhistwoselves,hisfantasyandthereality.Finally,HumbertdiedofcoronarythrombosisinprisonandLolitadiedofgivingbirthtoherbaby.LolitaisthemostinfluentialworkVladimirNabokovhaseverwritten.Besides,itisalsothemostsensationalone.Whenitwasfinishedin1955,itwasconsideredasimmoralanddegenerate,evenregardedasatotalpornographicbookbythereadersatfirst.Asaresult,fiveAmericanpublishersdidn’tliketopublishthisnovel.ButafterbeingpublishedbyMawirceGirodias’sOlympiaPressinParis,a“HurricaneLolita”wasstirredaroundtheEuropeaswellasAmerica.Atthesametime,itarousedgreatturbulenceinliteraryfield.Thecriticsaswellasthereadershadhugedisagreementsuponthisbook.Thesupportersthoughthighlyofitwhileitsopponentscriticizeditasatotalpornography.UntilEnglishwriterGrahamGreene’scriticalarticlepublished,thefateofLolitahasbeenchanged.BecauseofGreene’sparsingLolitaasoneofthethreebestbooksofthatyear,thisbookbegantoattractEuropean’sattentionandaswellasAmerican’s.WhenpublishedinAmerica,itbecamethebestsellerin1958.Morethan100,000bookshadbeensoldoutinthefirstthreeweeks,whichequaledwiththesellingrecordofGonewiththeWind.Althoughthedisputeaboutthebookisstillgoingonnow,noonecandenythebook’sgreatvalueinliterature.Whilereading,thereadershastheirownexpectationsandtherearesomanyblanksinthenovelwhichgivesthereadersenoughspacetoimagine.Soreadersarepartofthenovelandtheyareattractedbytheplot.Becausereadersaregreatlyinfluencedbythemassmediaandtheywouldnotliketoacceptanimmoralwork.Withthetimegoingon,moreandmorereadershavechancestoreadthenovel.Maybeatfirsttheyarecuriousaboutthereasonwhythisnovelwasforbiddentopublishandsomeofthemjustregardeditasaneroticnovel.Becauseofthespeciallove,readerswillhavetheirownjudgmentsbeforereadingthestory.Atthattime,thelovebetweenamiddle-agemanandayounggirlisrareandregardedasimmoral.Andthiskindofstoryalsobreaksreaders’previousreadingexperienceortraditionalconceptforlove.Itishardforpeopletoacceptbutatthesametimetheyarecuriousaboutthestory.InthiswayLolitaattractslotsofreaders’attentionandiftheyhavechances,theywouldliketoreadthiscontroversialnovelbythemselves.Duringthereadingprocess,theirexpectationsarereconstructedandtheywillfindthevalueinthework.Asforthetwomaincharacters,readerswillbeattractedbythem.Readers’expectationswillbeinfluencedbytheauthor’sintention,whichisthemostcommonphenomenonduringthereadingprocess.Inthiswaythereadersunderstandandaccept--4 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文theauthor’sobviousintention.Humbertisamiddle-agedmanwhoiswelleducatedinEurope.AftermovingtotheUnitedStates,hemeetsLolitaandfallsinlovewithher.Humbert’sappearanceatfirstisaguiltymanwhoisinjail.SopeoplewillregardHumbertasabadguy.Apparently,itishardforthereaderstoacceptamaincharacterthatisinjailtocontrolthewholestory.Butafterfurtherreading,hisbehaviorandhisconfessionmakeusalittleconfusedandsometimeswewillfeelsorryforhim.ItishardtosayHumbertisabadguy.Nabokovjustwantstoshowthemantothepublicandsometimesheevenshowshissympathyforhim.Sotheauthordidn’tmeantocriticizeHumbetandthereadersneedtomaketheirownjudgesonHumbertafterreading.However,thepubliccommentsalsohavegreateffectonthereaders’expectation.ThewelcomeofLolitaaroundtheworldshowsthisnovelmastersthepulseoftheera.Inthenovel,therearemanyconfessionsmadebyHumbertbutsometimeswecanfeelHumbertisnotasevilaswethought.Heisjustamanwhoisaddictedtothepastandheoftendenieshisownthoughtsorbehaviors.SothereaderswillfindtheirexpectationsforHumbertmaybebrokensuddenly.Butbecauseofthiskindofexpectation,readerscaninvolveinthenovelandtheywilladjusttheirunderstandingsallthetime.WhentheyreadLolita,theyknowLolitaisayounggirlwhoisbeautifulandlovely.SheliveswithhermotherandiseducatedinschoolwhoisapplyingPragmatismGrowingupinAmericainthe1950s.Sheisgreatlyinfluencedbythesocietyenvironment.AmericanhasdevelopedveryquicklyaftertheWorldWarIIbutthelifeseemsverydull.ThepopularculturespreadquicklyinAmericaandithasclearlymadegreatinfluenceonthechild’slimitedexperience.Popularculturemeansthatwhatismostpopulariswhatappealstothemostpeopleanditservestheinterestofthepeople.Becauselivingunderthisenvironment,Lolitaisnotacommonteenagegirlaswethought.Lolitaisaddictedtosomefashionablethings,likegoshoppingwiththeguideofadvertisements.Shealsolikesdancingandsinging.Maybeatfirst,readerswouldthinkofLolitaasapureandinnocentgirl.Sheisnotthepoorgirlwhoneedshelp,butagirlaffectedbythesocietytoomuch.Whatshethoughtandwhatshedidaretoofarbeyondthereaders’expectations.Sheismorecomplicatedandknowsmorethingsthanexpected.Whentheylivedinthemotel,itwasLolitathatthefirstonetoseduceHumbert.Soitbreaksreaders’expectationandbecauseofthisreaderswouldliketoreadfurthertofindthetrueLolita.Inthisnovel,therearemanyblanks,includingthesemanticblanksandthestructuralblanks,whichattractthereaderstousetheirimaginationtoexploreandtakepartinthecreationofthenovel.Besides,thisnovelgivesreadersmanyexpectationsandthenitreconstructsreaders’expectations.Bydoingthis,readersfeelattracted.BecauseofLolita,NabokovalsobecameafamousliterarycelebrityallovertheworldandthesuccessofLolitaalsoputsNabokovatanewheightinhiscareer.--5 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics1.2LiteratureReviewLolitaisagreatworkwhichhasarousedgreatturbulencearoundtheworld.Atthesametime,agreatmanycriticshaveputmuchattentiononanalyzingitfromdifferentaspects.Inordertohaveabetterknowledgeofit,itisnecessarytohaveastudyofthefindingsatabroadandhome.1.2.1TheLatestFindingsAbroadAlthoughVladimirNabokovwasgenerallyconsideredasatalentedwriter,hisworkswasgettingfamoustouslate.HewaswidelyknowntothereadersbecauseofthepublicationofLolitain1950s.Fromthenon,therewereanumberofresearcherstryingtoanalyzethisnovelfromdifferentperspectives.Andithasbeenthroughdifferentperiods,too.Ongeneral,thestudiesmainlyfocusonthreecategories.Thefirstisaboutthenovel’stheme.Thesecondisaboutthenovel’spostmodernismfeatureswhichexploresthenovelfromtheperspectiveoflanguageskills,techniques,aswellasstructuresandsoon.Andthirdisdiscussedfromtheperspectiveofestheticism.Attheearlyage,mostoftheresearchersareinterestedinthesubjectofthenovel.Theresearcheswanttoknowwhatthenovelreallysymbolizesorwhatmoralsignificanceitmeans.Inthisbook,thelovebetweenHumbertandLolitaisunethicalandtherearesomedescriptionsofsexwhichirritatethereaders.Somanypublishersseethisnovelassinfulpornographyandrefusedtopublishit.Until1955itwasputoutbyOlympiaPressinParis.Becauseofitsspecialcontentanditsunexpectedsuccess,moreandmoreattentionhasbeenattractedtothebook.Atfirst,mostcriticsarestillnotsureifithasgreatliteraryvalue.Inthe1950s,averyfamouscriticinUS,LionelTrillingexpresseshisideainTheLastLover:VN’sLolita(Lilnel1958:8-19)thatLolitahasnothingtodowithmorality,aswellassex.Hesupposesthenovel’slovestoryconstitutesageneralsatireofpeople’smoralsimplicityand“aparticularsatireuponthepeculiarsexualhypocrisyofAmericanlife.”SoLolitaisjustaromanticnovelthatseldomappearsinthemodernperiod.AlthoughNabokovclaimsthathejusttriestogainaestheticblissbycreatingthisnovelwithnoaimofteachingalesson,somecriticsstillholdtheideathatthenovelisasymboloftheagingEuropeanintellectualcomestoAmerica,fallinginlovewithitbutfindit,sadly,alittleimmature.AndinthisHumbertisseenastheEuropeandLolitaistheimmatureAmerica.WhileDavidRamptonarguesthatthecriticsshouldpayattentionontheartthebookitselfratherthanonitsmoralconcernsinhispaperValdimirNabokov:aCriticalStudyoftheNovels.(Rampton1993)Thensomescholarsturntoexplorethethemeofthisnovel.StephenJanParkerseesthisnovelas“thesupremenovelofloveinthe2thcentry.”(Parker1987)Soinhismind,heemphasizesthelovethemeandagreesthereexitslovebetweenHumbertandLolita.Kargesholdsthesameideaandhealsobelievesthethemeofthenovelisconnectedwithbutterfly.HeexpressesthisideainNabokov’sLepidoptera:GenresandGenera.(Kareges1985)Aswellknow,Nabokovisfascinatedbybutterfliesandpaysmuch--6 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文attentiontothedetailsofdescription.Alongwiththediscussionofthetheme,therearestillmanyothercriticsexploringthewritingstylesofthisnovel.BecauseNabokovisnotEnglish,hecanstillwritethenovelwithexcellentandbeautifulEnglish.InWords:aTheoryofLanguageinFiction,JamesPhelanbelievesthatLolitais”distinctiveamongnovelsbecausethepleasureinthestyleisfoundonalmosteverylanguage.”(Phelan1981)CarlR.ProfhasmadeaprofoundstudyontheallusionsandstyleinLolitaandhedrawsreaders’attentiontothelanguageinthebook.Sincethenon,theattentiononthenovel’sartistictechniques,structuresandwritingpatternsisincreasing.Asforthewritingtechniques,AlfredAppleJr.,inTheAnnotatedLolita,(Apple1991)hasmadeaveryclearanddetailedexplanationaboutit,suchaswordgames,allusions,puns,coinages,comicetymologiesandparody.TheninhisanotherpaperLolita:theSpringboardofParody,heoffersamorecomprehensiveviewofthebook.Heclaimsthat”parodyisthekeywordofLolita”and“theentirenovelisconceptuallyaparody.”(Apple1967)Forthewritingpatterns,somecriticsthinkitisamixture.MatthewWinston’sLolitaandtheDangersofFictionillustratesthatinthenovelwecanseethecombinationofdetectivenovel,confessionalautobiographyandlovestory.(Winston1975(4):421-427)Atlast,therearestillmanyprofoundaestheticstudieswhichintendtoillustratetheauthor’saestheticopinions.Nabokovislikeamagician,whocreatesafictitiousworldinliterature.Inthisfictitiousworld,hecangivethereaderakindofenjoymentwhilehehimselfcanalsogetsatisfaction,becauseinhisopinion,novelisnothingaboutreality.InEscapeinAesthetics:theArtofVladimirNabokov,PageStegnerarguesNabokovescapesfromrealityandcreatesalandfullofartandbeauty.(Stegner1966)HespeakshighlyofHumbertexceptforthecrimeandhecallsforthereaderssympathyonHumbert’ssufferingandunderstandingofhisconfession,whilehestatesHumbert’sobsessionwithLolitais“asearchforthetimeless,immoral,uncomplicated,never-neverland”.Thatmeans“Humbertisonlychasingafterhisownimaginationandislostintheblendingofhisimaginationandthereallife,however,theartistheonlyresolutionandtheultimategoal.”(Peng2012)Aboveall,theresearchesmainlyfocusonthemoralthemeatitsearlytime,andthenscholarsshifttheirattentiononlanguage,writingtechniques,author’saestheticismandsoon.ThisalsoformagoodfoundationforresearchesinChina.1.2.2TheLatestFindingsatHomeBecauseofsomepoliticalreasons,thestudyaboutLolitaismuchlatercomparedwiththesystemicandthoroughresearchesinforeigncountries.However,itgenerallyfollowsthetrendandshiftabroad.Dividingbythedifferentperiods,wecansaythestudyaboutLolitahasbeenthroughthreeperiods.BecauseofthebeginningoftheformalrelationshipbetweenChinaandAmerica,Chinesescholarsstartedtohaveinterestinstudyingthewesternliteratures.WhileLolitaisnotthefirstworkofNabokov’stobeintroducedintoChina.WhenMeiShaowu,atranslatorwhohad--7 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticstranslatedNabokov’sanotherfamousworkPuningwasaskedtotranslateLolita,herefusedbecausethecontentandthethemeofthisworkwasnotsuitableforChinesetraditionalculture.Until1988,DaiLuopublishedsymbolism,LolitaonthemagazineForeignLiteratureReviews,whichwasalmostthefirstliteraturereviewforLolitaathome.Hecriticizedtheworkfromtheaspectofmoralthemesandagreedthatthisnovelhadpassthesymbolismatthemorallevel,inwhichtheheroHumbertwasthesymbolofoldEuropeandyoungLolitawassymbolizedforthenewrisingAmerica.Thenatthesameyear,DongDingshanpublishedanarticleLolitais42-year-old.(Dong1988(10):128-133)Inthisarticle,hedistinguishedLolitafrompornographyandgaveadetaileddescriptionaboutthepublicationprocessofthenovelinAmericaandEurope.Whilein1989,moreandmorepeoplewereinterestedinLolitaandfiveversionsofthetranslationcameupinayear.Fromthenon,researchershavegraduallypaidmoreandmoreattentiontothiswork.Thesestudiesmainlyfocuson4perspectives.ThefirstisthemoralityofLolita.Theresearcherswanttoexplorethedeepermoralitybehindthebook.AlthoughthewriterNabokovpublishesthearticleOnaBookEntitledLolitain1956toexplainthat“Lolitadoesnotteachthemanything,Iamneitherareadernotawriterofdidacticfiction…Lolitahasnomoral……”(Nabokov2005a)Therearestillmanyresearcherstryingtoexploreit.ZengLan’sMoral,ImmoralorAmoral-ApproachingLolita,thinksLolitajustreflectsNabokov’sartperspective.(Zeng2002)Itisneitheraimmoralnovel,noraamoralnovel,anditisjustapuzzlemadebythewriterinordertomakethereaderknowhowtoenjoythemoralstrengthlaidinawork.LuoXiaoyan’sLolita’sMoralityThemestartsfromthemoralphilosophytoarguethatLolitaisnotpornographybutasuccessfulliterarywork.Itisafantasticmoralitydinnercarefullydesignedbythewriter.(Luo2012)Later,thescholarsshifttheirattentiononexploringthethemeofthenovel.CaiLili’sLolita:TheEternalTragedyofBeingLostinDesireandTimeexclaimsthatthenovelisanarrativeaboutthelong-lastingthemeoftimeanddesire.(Cai2006)Shethinksthroughanincentivesexstory,Lolitapresentsthehumanaresinkingintoinevitabledesireandthechallengetounder-defeatedtimebecauseofstupidityandwildfancyanditisthedesireandwildfantasythatleadtotheeternaltragedyofbeinglostinthedesireandtime.Relatedtotime,thethemeofexileisalsoarguedbysomewriter.LiXiaojunpublishesanessaynamedAnExileontheWay:OnNabokov’sMasterpieceLolita.(Li2001)Hethinksbehindthenarrationconcerningexilelifereststheauthor’sprofoundmotivationtodefeattime.Thisdesireforeternityissuccessfullyfulfilledbytheuniquemeansofwriting.TheninHuangTiechi’sButterflyintheGlassBall--AnInterpretiveReadingofNabokovandHisLolita,heillustratesthecomplexionanddiversityofhumannatureisthethemeofthenovel.(Huang2000)Besides,thelovebetweenHumbertandLolita,freedom,Americandreamsarealsostudiedbysomeresearchers.Next,somecriticsstarttoanalyzethenovel’sartisticformsandstyles.Asa--8 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文masterpieceofpostmodernnovel,mostofthecriticsfocusontheanalysisofitspostmoderncharacteristics.JiangXiuzhen’sPostmodernistParametersofLolitaimpliesthisnovelismulti-genericandithintsformtimetotimethatitsnarrativeisnotrealistic.(Jiang2008)Nabokovclipsandpassessomeclassictextsorimitatesthemjokingly,anddescribesseriousandurgenteventsinaneasyormischievousmanner.Therearemanypaperstryingtoanalyzethework’smeta-fictionalskills,suchasLiXiang’sOntheApplicationofMeta-fictioninLolita,inwhichhetalksabouttheparody,theingeniousplotarrangement.(Li2011)GuoXinyudescribesherideainMeta-fictionCharacteristicinLolitathatthemeta-factioncharacterproveditsuniqueandliteraryvalue,showingthedualityofLolitawhichdecidedthetwo-sidedcommentsonit,especiallythedebateofitsaestheticandmorals.(Guo2011)ChinesescholarsanalyzeLolitanotonlyfromtheperspectiveoftheme,writingtechniquesbutalsomakeuseofpsychoanalysis,whichisscarcelyusedbyforeigncritics,suchasHouShuangxia’sCorrespondencebetweenLolitaandFreudianPsychoanalysisanalyzesthecharacters’psychologicalconditionsinthewayofusingthree-levelpersonalitystructureandunconsciousness.NaYangdescribesNabokov’santi-FreudianismisactuallyawritingtrickinhisworkOnVladimirNabokov’sAnti-FreudianismExudedbyLolita.WhatIammostimpressedisthethesisfordegreeofMasterofartnamedAPostmodernIinterpretationofNabokov’sMirror-RealityComplexinLolitawrittenbyLiMing,whoisapostgraduateinShandongUniversity.(Li2012)Inthispaper,heaimstoexposetheeverlastingmirror-realitythematicconcernofNabokovespeciallyinLolita.HethinksNabokovispaintinganunrealworldwithdifferentvehiclesandhewantstohiddentherealworldinlanguage.Besides,inanotherMasterThesisFictitiousRealityandActuality—OntraumasProtagonistsandtheAuthorofLolitabyZhangYuewhoisfromHenanUniversity,theauthorstudiesonthetraumasoftheprotagonistsHumbertandLolitainLolitaaswellasNabokovwiththeapplicationoftheoryoftraumas.(Zhang2012)Shethinksallofthemarelivingundertheshadowoftraumas.Shepointsoutbyusingthetheoryoftraumaasapointofdeparture,thethesisanalyzesthetraumasofHumbert,LolitaandNabokov,thusclarifiesthatthereexistspositiveaspectintrauma—traumaimpelspeopletogrowup.Nabokov’s“FictionalRealityConept”andthePresentinLolitaiswrittenbyWangQiong,whoisapostgraduateinNanCangUniversity.(Wang2008)Inhispaper,heattemptstocontrastthegeneralsenseof“Reality”withNabokov’s“FictionalRealityConcept”inaccordancewithNabokov’sremarks,aimingtofigureoutwhatthe“FictionalReality”isandexplorecausesandthesignificanceofthisconcept.Atthesametime,healsogivesanoverviewofNabokov’sexceptionalunderstandingofnovelandhisartoffictionalnarratingbyanalyzinghowhis“FictionalReality”waspresentedinLolita.Heconcludesthatthemodernpeoplecanfindaharborinthefictionalworldcomposedbylanguagesymbols,andinthiswaythenovelwillneverdisappear.Besides,the“FictionalReality”alsooffersapossibledirectionforustocrosstherestraintof--9 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsreality.Inrecentyears,therearemorethesispublishedanalyzingLolitafrommorecreativeperspectives,likefromtheperspectiveofethicalliterarycriticismaswellasfromthecultureperspective.Butaccordingtotheaboveliteraturereviews,therearefewcriticsorscholarswhohaveyetanalyzedLolitafromtheperspectiveofreaders.Readersarepartofagreatwork,andtheyareconsideredasthesecondauthorofthework.ThenafterreadingapapernamedReaders’maze---anAnalysisofLolitaformtheRespectofPersonalExperiencebyMuBaizhi,Iwasgreatlyinspired.(Mu2002)UsingStanlyFish’stheoryandpractice,thisessaytemptstohaveaclosestudyofthetextandanalyzetheauthor’swritingmotivationofinvitingthereaderintohisnovel,beingpartofitinsteadofgivingthemanymorallessons.Thispaperalsogivesmeinspirationsinassociatingthereaders’readingexperiencewiththeauthor’swriting.1.3ThesisStatementAsweallknow,Lolitaisagreatworkwhichhasbeenstudiedfromdifferentperspectives.However,Lolitaisalwaysproducingnewmeaningsallthetimeafterthereadersreadit.Forthewriter,Lolitaisonlyawork,butforthereaders,eachofthemwillhaveadifferentversionofLolita.It’ssaid,“Athousandpeopleeyeswith1,000Hamlet“.ItistrueofLolita.“Athousandpeopleeyeswith1,000Lolita”.ButInoticedbasedontheliteraturereviewabove,wecanseethatscholarshaveputmostoftheirconcernonthemoralities,styles,postmodernismorvariousthemesofthenovel,fewcareaboutthefunctionofthereaders.Therearealsosomediscussionsabouttheattractionoftheworkandthereasonsbutexceptfortheinvolvementofreaders,howitcanbepasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.Thereadersnowadaysmusthavedifferentfeelingscomparedwiththereadersinthepastwiththetimegoingon.TheperspectiveofthereadersturnsouttobesomethingnewinthestudyofNabokovandhisLolita.Therolesofreadersmaybenecessarytobestudiedwhenconsideringthefunctionfortheexistingofthework.Besides,byanalyzingtheblanks,wewillknowmoreaboutthenovelandthereasonwhyreadersareattractedbythenovel.Afterreadingthebook,thisthesisintendstoexploreLolitafromtheperspectiveofreceptionaesthetics,discussingabouttheblanksandhowreadersreconstructthenovelwhilereading.Asarecentlyarisenliterarycriticismapproach,receptionaestheticsgivesusanewanddifferentviewtolookattheliteratureworks.Itbelievesthatitistheindividualreaderwhocreateshisownmeaningthroughinteractionwiththetextratherthantheauthororthetext.Soeachunderstandingisuniqueandsubjectivebecauseallofthereaderswillputtheirownexperience,emotionsandknowledgetotheirreadingprocess,whichmakestheworkcomplete.WhenreadersreadLolita,theyactuallyareinvolvedinthecreationofthenovel.Thereadingprocessisalsotheprocessfortheliterarytexttobetrulyrealized.Sothisthesiswillshiftitsattentiontothereaders,aimingtoexplorethereasonwhytheworkissocharmingandthewriterhowtouse--10 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文blanksinthetexttoinspirethereadersandhowLolitabothsatisfiesandbreaksthroughthereaders’horizonofexpectation.TheinterpretationofLolitafromtheperspectiveofreceptionaestheticsisanewaspectresearchandthisthesiswillmainlyanalyzetheblanksinthenovelandreaders’reconstructionduringthereadingprocess.ItwouldcertainlyprovideanewwaytostudythewriterNabokovandalsogetabetterunderstandingoftheworkitself.--11 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics2ReceptionAestheticsReceptionAesthetics,whichisalsoknownasthereceptiontheory,isanimportantliterarycriticismtheoryinthefieldofwesternliterature.Fromitsnamewecanknowthatitisnotonlyaliterarytheorybutalsoanaesthetictheory.2.1ThedefinitionofReceptionAestheticsReceptionAestheticsisatheoryonliterarycriticismandattachesgreatsignificancetothereceptionofreadersduringtheprocessofreading.Itplaysanimportantroleinthestudyofliteraturewhichshiftsthescholars’attentionfromtheauthorandtexttothereaders.Hansisoneofthefounders.Hestressestheimportanceofreaderstothemeaningoftheworkandtheaestheticsvaluesandputstherelationshipbetweenthereadersandtheworkinthefirstplace,whichisanoutbreakofthetraditionalliteraturetheory.Besides,Hansalsoputsforwardthedefinitionofaestheticexpectation,whichisthoughtasthebasisofthereadingexperience.Besides,Iseralsoputsforwardanotherimportantconceptofreceptionaesthetics---“BlankTheory”.Itincludes“SemanticTheory”and“StructuralTheory”.Whenawriterwritesthenovel,hewillleavemanyblanks,whichwillinspirethereaderstofill.Beforethereadersreadthenovel,theywillformcertainexpectationsandwhentheyarereadingit,someexpectationswillbebroken.Ifso,readers’reconstructionisveryimportantforunderstandingthenovel.Readersarepartofthenovelbecausetheyneedtofillintheblankswiththeirownimaginationandtheywillhavenewunderstandingsofthenovel.Thereadersarealsoattractedbythebreakingoforiginalexpectationandthereconstructionintheprocessofreading.Itaroseformthelateof1960sinGermanyandgotthewidestpopularityinthe1970s.IthadbeenfoundedbyagroupofyoungscholarsattheUniversityofConstanceinGermany.TheyareHansRobertJauss,WolfgangIser,ManfredFuhmann,WolfgangPreisendanz,andJurijStrideter,whowerecalled“Constanceschool”(DieKonstanzerSchuleinGerman).Thosefamousscholarsoftengottogethertodiscussthe“reception”ofliterarytext.Amongthosescholars,HansRobertJaussandWolfgangIserweretherepresentativesoftheConstanceSchool,“Theybothstoodoutfortheirdistinguishedyetdifferentcontributionstoliterarycriticismofthetwentiethcentury.”(Deng2009)In1967,HansRobertJausspublishedLiteraryHistoryasaChallengetoLiteraryTheorywhichdeclaredthebeginningofreceptionaesthetics,callingforanewwaytoliterarystudies.WhileIser,theotherleadingfigureofthetheory,publishedIndeterminacyandtheReader’sResponseinProseFictionin1971,makingprogressforthedevelopmentofreceptionaesthetics.(Iser1988)JausswasmainlyinfluencedbyGadamer’sHermeneuticsandputforwardtheideaofestablishingreceptionaestheticsformtheperspectiveofupdatingliteraturehistoryresearchapproaches.Bringhistoricaldimensiontoliterarycriticism,hepaidattention--12 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文toreestablishtheapproachofcombiningthehistorywiththeaesthetics,especiallytheacceptanceofthehistoryinliterature.Hepointedoutthat,“Thehistoricallifeofaliteraryworkisdefinitelyunthinkablewithouttheinvolvementofitsaddresses.Becauseitisonlythroughthecourseofitsmediationthattheworkentersintothechanginghorizonofexperienceofcontinuity.”(Jauss1982)WhileIserenjoyedtheequalreputationwithJauss,hestudiedthereceptionastheticsfromdifferentangles.HistheoryfoundationisIngarden’sPhenomenologyandbeganhisresearchonnewcriticism,fictionandnarrativetheory.Henotonlystudiedthehistoryacceptanceoftheliterature,butalsodidaphenomenonanalysisonthetextstructurefortheinteriorreadingresponse.SointheprologueofTheActofReading:ATheoryofAestheticsResponse,heclaimedJauss’theoryas“acceptancetheory”andhisownas“responsetheory”.(Iser1980)HolubalsosaidthatifoneregardsJaussasdoingwiththemicrocosmofreception,thenIserdealswiththemicrocosmofresponse.(Holub1984)Althoughtheirpointsaredifferent,theirtheoriesareplayingaveryimportantroleinthereceptionaesthetics.JustasIserpointedoutinTheActofReading,“Receptionaestheticsisacompletesubjectonlywhencombinesbothacceptancetheoryandtheresponsetheory”.Soinordertohaveabetterunderstandingofreceptionaestheticsthescholarsalwaysmadeacombinationoftheirtheories.2.2TheBackgroundandFeaturesofReceptionAesthetics.Thetheoryofreceptionaestheticsisdevelopedfromtheprevioustheories,suchasRussianformalism,PragueStructuralism,thePhenomenologyofRomanIngarden,HansGeorgeGadamar’sPhilosophicalHermeneuticsandthe“sociologyofliterature”.Itsriseandspreadisrootedinacertainsocialandculturalbackground.In1960s,greatchangesabouttheinternationalpoliticaltookplacearoundtheworld:socialismobtainedaconstantandrapiddevelopment.Whileatthesametime,therewerestillstruggleagainstimperialism,colonialismandthecolonialcountrieswerefightingfortheirfreedomandindependence.Nodoubt,thepoliticalreformhadagreateffectonthesociety,especiallyamongtheintelligentsia.Theyshiftedtheirattentionfromthe“author-centered”tothe“reader-centered”andcriticizedthatliterarycreationandstudycouldnotbeisolatedfromrealityandpeople,onthecontrary,literatureshouldenterlife,playingitssocialfunction.Asweknow,receptionaestheticsismainlydirectlybasedonPhenomenologyandHermeneutics.SoitisnecessarytohaveabriefreviewaboutIngarden’sPhenomenologyandGadamer’sHermeneutics.RomanIngardenwasanoutstandingPolishphilosopher,aestheticianandliterarytheoristwhowasborninKrakow.Hedevotedallhislifetimetotheresearchaboutphilosophicalontologyandaesthetics.HisfamousbookTheLiteraryWorkofArthadagreateffectonthedevelopmentofreceptionaesthetics.(Roman1973)Hethinkstherearetwokindsofintentobjects,oneisincludingmaterialobjects,whichis--13 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics“self-sufficient”,andtheotherispure“intentobjects”whichareassociatedwithpeople’saestheticimagesandappreciation.Itneedsreaderstocompletebyproperimagination.Healsoputsforwardthetheoryof“reconstruction”and“concretization”.Hispointofviewexertsgreatinfluenceonthedevelopmentofreceptionaesthetics.Gadamer’sHermeneuticsisanotherdirectsourceofreceptionaestheticsandheiscalledasthefatherofreceptionaesthetics.Gadamernotesthatthesignificanceofworksexitsineveryparticularandcurrentaestheticactivity.Onlyintheprocessofappreciationcantheworksofartsexistandthereadersmustplayapositiveroleduringtheappreciation.GadamerpavesoutthewayforthescholarstotransferthefocusofliterarystudyfromtheauthorandtexttoreaderswhichiscrucialfortheappearanceofReceptionAesthetics.Inhisopinion,thereadersplayanactiveroleintheprocessofrecreationandthetruemeaningofaworkisnottheauthor’sbutwhatthereadersunderstand.Itisthereaderswhomaketheworksexiting.Besides,hethinksthattextisanopenstructureandthereaders’understandingofitisalsoanopenprocess.Basedonthisidea,Iserputsforward“appealingstructure”or“response-invitingstructureofText”.Receptionaestheticsattachesgreatsignificancetothereceptionofreadersduringtheprocessofreading.Itplaysanimportantroleinthestudyofliteraturewhichshiftsthescholars’attentionfromtheauthorandtexttothereaders.Thebasicfeaturesofreceptionaestheticsarethefollowings.Firstofall,receptionaestheticsisdifferentfromthetheorieswhicharecenteredbytheauthorsandtexts.Receptionaestheticshasbelievedreadersareplayingaveryimportantroleinthereadingprocesswhichhasbeenignoredbypredecessor’stheoriesforalongtime.Readers’understandingisthesourceofthetext’smeaning,andtheundonetextisjustacarrierofthemeaning.Areadercanbeaconnoisseur,critics,andwriter,becausethecriticism,appreciationitselfisakindofcreationandreproduction.Thetruemeaningofaworkisthevariousexplanationsthereaders.Onlyinthereadingprocessthesocialimportanceandaestheticvalueoftheworkcanbemanifested.Isersaid“Theliteraryworkhastwopoles,whichwemightcalltheartisticandaesthetic:theartisticistheauthor’stextandtheaestheticistherealizationaccomplishedbythereader.”(Iser1980)Inaword,atrueworkismadeupnotonlybytheauthor’screationbutalsothereaders’reception.Aworkisonlyaliterarytextwithoutreaders’involvement.Inthearttradition,thepassofaworkfromgenerationtogenerationisbecauseofthedynamicexplanationsbetweenthequestionsandanswers.Newmeaningscanbefoundduringtheexploration.Butitisnecessarytonoticethatthereaders’receptionmustdependontext.Thetextwhichiswrittenonthepapergivesreadersbasicknowledge,butthepartswhicharenotwrittengivethechancetoimagine.Itisakindofblanks,whicharetobefilledbythereaders.Secondly,readersco-existwiththeauthor,whetherreadersholdapositiveoranegativeattitudetowardaliteraryworkdependsonitsquality.Differentreadersmay--14 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文havedifferentresponsesaboutthesamework,andtheyalsocangivesameevaluationandcommentstothesameworkbutbecauseofdifferentreasons.What’smore,thesamereadersmayhavedifferentunderstandingsofthesameworkatdifferenttimes.Theworkisalwaystheone,buttheunderstandingsaresodifferent.Itmeansthereceptionisnotonlyconfinedtotheworkitself,butalsotothereaders.Thereadersalwaysparticipatesthecreation.Forareader,thelifeexperiences,educationbackground,personalityarethepossiblefactorswhichaffecttheirreceptionofawork.Becauseofthechanges,thereaderswilltaketheirnewfeelingsanddifferentwaysofthinkingtotheprocessofthework.Andsomeoftheseindividualchangesaretransferredtokindofsocialchanges,whichbringaninfluenceontheauthors.Thirdly,accordingtoreceptionaesthetics,theprocessofreceptionisdividedintotwoparts:socialreceptionandindividualreception.Whenaworkisdone,itfirstlycomestothesocialreception,thentheindividualreception.Beforeanindividualcanreadabook,ithasbeenthroughseveralparts.Thesocialinstitutionsareincludingthepublishers,bookstores,schoolsandlibraries.Abookcanbeadvertisedthroughthemedia,anditalsocanbelabeledbythepublishers.Soreadersareinfluencedbythesocialreception.Tosumup,theindividualreceptionisdefinitelyaffectedbythesocialreception.2.3MajorConceptsinReceptionAestheticsInthispart,inordertohaveabetterunderstandingofReceptionAesthetics,thethesiswillgiveanexplanationtotwoimportantconcepts:blanktheoryandReaders’Reconstruction.2.3.1BlankTheoryIserisafamousscholarofReceptionAesthetic.Themajorfeatureofhistheoryistoanalyzethestructureoftheliteraryandtext.Sohethinksthereadingactivityexistsinthestructureoftexts.Thatistosay,Iserbelieves“literaryworkisakindofcommunication”and“theaestheticresponseexistsinthetext”.(Iser1978:21)Inordertoexplainhowitispossibleforthereaderstoreaddifferenttexts,Iserfirstputforward“Response-InvitingStructureofText”in1970whichwasalsocalled“BlankTheory”anditmeantthattherewasakindoffunctionalstructuretoinvitethereaders’readingresponseintheliterarytext.Thisisaspecialfeatureexitinginthetextitself.ThetermdevelopedfromRomanIngardernwhoputforward“placeofindeterminacy”.Hethought“aplaceofindeterminacywastheaspectorpartoftheportrayedobjectwhichwasnotspecificallydeterminedbythetext.Manyaspectsportrayedintheliteraryworkofart,especiallythedescriptionsofwhathappenstopeopleandthingsincludemanynumberofplacesofindeterminacy.”(Roman1973:50)IseragreedwithIngarden,butheaddedhisownunderstandingandputforwardtheconceptof“BlankTheory”.InIser’sopinion,placesofindeterminacywasusedtomeanagapinthesequenceoftheschematicaspectsorinthedeterminacyoftheintentionalobjectanditindicatedthe--15 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsindeterminatepartsoftheindividualobjectwhichaskedforfulfillment.Butthe“blanks”meantthebrokenconnectionofthewholetextwhichhadtobeconnected.Indeterminacywasthegapbetweenthefamiliarityandunfamiliarityandablankwasformedbecauseoftheindeterminacyofthetext.Becauseoftheindeterminacyandtheblanks,thetextinspiredreaderstoexplorethesignificanceoftheworkswiththeirownimaginationandturntheexperienceofothersintotheirexperience.Theuncertaintyortheblankofmeaningencouragedreaderstotakepartinthecreationoftheworksandtofulfilltheuncertainpoints.SointheeyesofIser,aworkcanbepassesfromgenerationtogenerationnotonlybecauseitseternaltheme,butbecauseitsstructurecanalwaysbefilledwithsomethingnew,whichwasowetotheblanksinthework.Inaword,themoreuncertaintiesandblanksaliterarytexthas,thedeeperreaderswilldigoutthemeaningtorealizeitsaestheticpotentialandrecreatetheartinsomeway.However,therearetwokindsofblankswecanfindinawork,oneiscalled“SemanticBlanks”andtheotheris“StructuralBlanks”.2.3.1.1SemanticBlanks“SemanticBlanks”arisesfromthemulti-meaningofwords.Awordusuallycarriesmorethanonemeaningandtherearepluralmeaningsforonewordindifferentcontext.“Thenormsoflanguagearebrokenbyliteraturewhichmakewordsexpressitsliteralmeaningbutalsoimplyitsmulti-meaningssoastoformtheblanksandindeterminacyofmeanings.”（Jin1998:50）Inanovel,metaphorscanbeusedtocarrydifferentmeanings.What’smore,somewriterswouldliketousewordgamestointerestthereaders,sothereaderscanparticipateintherecreationofthework.Theymustusetheirownimaginationtothinkaboutthedeepermeaningofawordorasentence.Duringthethinkingprocess,theblankswillbefilledbythereaders.2.3.1.2StructuralBlanksStructuralBlanksmeanstheblanksinthestructureofatext.Wecancallit“TheResponse–InvitingStructureofText”.Iserexplainedtheconcept,“Theterm,placeofindeterminacyisusedtomeanagapinthesequenceoftheschematicaspectsorinthedeterminacyoftheintentionalobject,however,theblankdesignatesavacancyinthewholesystemofthetext,thefulfillmentofwhichresultsinaninteractionoftextualpatterns”.(Iser1978:50)SoinIser’sopinion,“placeofinderminacy”istheindeterminatepartsoftheindividualobjectswhichneedtobefulfilledbythereaders.And“blank”referstothepartswhichneedtobeconnectedbytheimaginationofthereader.Itisjusttheblanksandindeterminateplacesthatcaninspirereaders’horizonofexpectationsandaskfortheirconcretizationandinterpretation.Duringthereadingprocess,thereadersneedtousetheirownknowledgeandexperiencetofilltheblanksandindeterminateplaces.Sotheindeterminacyofthetextisaveryimportantcharacteristicofliterarytext.Thecommunicationbetweenthereaderandthetext--16 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文reproducethemeaningofthetextbecausethereadersaddtheirownexperienceandunderstanding.Thatistosay,aliterarywork’smeaningisnotonlyexitinginthetext,butalsoisgeneratedduringtheprocessofreading.Themoreblanks,themorenumbersofpossibilitiesforthereadertointerpretthetext.JustlikeIsersays,“Thegreaterthenumberofblanks,thegreaterwillbethenumberofdifferentimagesbuiltupbythereader”.(Iser1978:186)2.3.2Readers’ReconstructionReaders’reconstructionmeansthereconstructionofthehorizonofexpectationduringthereadingprocess.“Horizonofexpectation”isaverycrucialconceptinreceptionaestheticsanditincludestwoperiods,oneistherealizationofreaders’expectationandtheotheristhereconstructionoftheexpectation.HorizonofexpectationisputforwardbyJaussanddatesbacktoHeideggere’s“pre-understanding”andGadamar’s“prejudice”.Jaussbelievesthatliteraryhistoryisthecombinationofthehistoryvisionandcurrentviewsthroughwhichliterarytextrealizesitsownsocialfunction.InJauss’sopinion,thehorizonofexpectationisthecertainexpectationfortheworkbeforereading.Italsocanbeunderstoodasakindofexpectationbasedonpre-readingorpre-knowledgeinreader’smind,whichisformedbeforethereadingprocess.Itisformedbyreaders’literaryreadingexperienceintheprocessofreading.Jaussconnectsthetextbothwiththewriterandthereaders.Therearetwokindsofformsfortheexpectation,oneisformedbytheaestheticexperience,suchastheliterarytypes,forms,themes,andlanguages,andtheotherisabroaderexpectationformedbythelifeexperience.Thatistosay,aworkisalwayssomethingnewforareaderinsomeextent.AsJaussputsit,“Itawakensmemoriesofthatwhichwasalreadyread,bringsthereaderstoaspecificemotionalattitudeandwithitsbeginning,arousestheexpectationforthe“middleandend,”whichcanthenbemaintainedintactoraltered,reoriented,orevenfulfilledironicallyinthecourseofthereadingaccordingtospecificrulesofthegenreortypeoftext.”(Jauss1982:23)Sofordifferentreaders,thesametextcanbearouseddifferenthorizonofexpectationsbecauseofdifferentexperienceandappreciationlevels.Besides,asareader’slifechanges,hisexpectationforthesameworkwillalsochange.Foraliterarywork,therealizationofreaders’HorizonofExpectationisthebasicthing,whilethereconstructionofthehorizonisthemostimportantthingtomakereadershavemoreinterestinreadingthisnovel.Jaussregardsthereceptionofliteraryworksastheprocessforareadertoestablishhishorizonofexpectations.Hethinkswhenareader’shorizonofexpectationintegrateswithawork,itisforthereadertoaccentandunderstandthetext.Forexample,ifthebookisalovestoryhappenedin1950s,thereaderswillhavesomecertainpre-understandingsaboutthestory.Thatmeans,whenreadersreaddifferentstylesnovels,theyallreaditwiththeirown“prejudice”.Andthiskindof“prejudice”isformedbythebackgroundofthesocietyorthetraditionalvalues.Inthisway,whena--17 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticswriterwantstowriteawork,itisnecessarytothinkaboutreaders’horizonofexpectations.Butthatisonlyreferredtoreadingacommonwork.Besides,Jaussmakesadifferencebetweentheindividualexpectationsandsocialexpectations.ThesocialexpectationisthemajortaskfortheReceptionAestheticsandreferstothecommonhorizonofexpectationforacertainperiodinthehistory.Ittakesaneffectontheindividualandcontrolsthereaders’acceptanceability.Butsomenovelsarealittledifferentfromthecommonwork.Whattheytalkaboutishugelydifferentlyformthecommonones.Soforthereaders,itisdifficulttounderstand.Maybetheychoosetorefusecontinuingreadingthisworkormakeitabadworkatfirst,butreadfurther,theywillfindsomethinginterestingandmeaningfulexistinginthetext.Atlast,itwouldliketoturntobeagreatwork.However,whenthereareconflictsbetweentheworkandreaders’horizonofexpectations,readershavetofindawaytobreaktheiroldexpectationsandreconstructanewhorizonofexpectation.Inthisway,theauthorscanbringpermanentanduniversalreceptionfortheirworks.Thisisreferredtoreadinganoutstandingwork.Foranauthor,ifhewantstobreakreaders’horizonofexpectation,heneedstousedifferentwritingtechniquesandhecanalsoleavesomeblanksforthereaderstofill.Onlyinthiswaycanarousethereaders’imaginationtoexplorethedeepermeaningsofawork.--18 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文3TheSemanticBlanksandStructuralBlanksinLolitaInthecreationprocess,writerswillapplysomestrategiesinhiswritingtocreateappropriatedegreeofuncertaintyandblankstomotivatereaders’imagination.InIser’sopinion,“thegreatnumbersofblanksinthework,thegreaterwillbethenumberofdifferentimagesbuildsupbythereader”(Iser1980:186)Thatmeansthesefunctionalblanksformanopentextwhichwillinspirereaders’imaginationandthereconstructionprocessisakindofcreationbythereaders,too.Inthisway,theauthorsandthereadersarecloselyconnectedwitheachother.Inotherwords,theauthorandthereadersaccomplishtheworkstogether.Blankscanbedividedintothreekinds,oneissemanticblanks,suchaspun,simile,metaphor,metonymy,etc,oneissyntacticblanksandtheotherisstructureblanksincludingmultiplenarrativesandmulti-dimensionandsoon.NabokovisanoutstandingmasterofartandhecreatesmanyblanksinLolitatoattractreaders.AlthoughheuseseasyEnglishtotellthestory,therearestillmanysemanticblanksandstructureblanksinthenovelwhichinspirereaderstofillandrecreatewiththeirimagination.Therefore,inthisthesistheauthorwouldliketoanalyzetheartofblanksinLolitaformtheaspectofsemanticblanksandstructureblanks.3.1SemanticBlanksinLolitaAwordusuallycarriesmorethanonemeaning,whichisrestrainedtobeunderstoodwithonemeaningindifferentcontexts.Butawordcanbeunderstoodwithitsliteralmeaningsbutalsowithitsimpliedmeanings.Soawordcanalsoformakindofblankswhichgeneratetheindeterminacyofmeanings.InLolita,Nabokovuseswordgamesandaseriesofmetaphorsandironiestoinspirethereadersthemulti-meaningsinthem.Bydoingthis,thereadershavemoreinterestsinexploringthetextandatthesametime,theyparticipateintheliteraturetextactively,becausetheyneedtousetheirimaginationtofillthesemanticblanks.3.1.1TheWordGamesintheNovel“SemanticBlanks”arisesfromthemulti-meaningofwords.Awordusuallycarriesmorethanonemeaningandtherearepluralmeaningsforonewordindifferentcontext.“Thenormsoflanguagearebrokenbyliteraturewhichmakeswordsexpressitsliteralmeaningbutalsoimpliesitsmulti-meaningssoastoformtheblankandindeterminacyofmeanings.”(Jin1998:85)Inanovel,somewriterwouldliketousewordgamestointerestthereaders,sothereaderscanparticipateintherecreationofthework.Theymustusetheirownimaginationtothinkaboutthedeepermeaningofawordorasentence.Duringthethinkingprocess,theblankswillbefilledbythereaders.Asamasterofthreedifferentlanguages,Nabokovisanexpertofplayingwordgames,whichmakesthetextfullofentertainmentandjoy.LolitaiswritteninEnglish,andthereareFrancewordsandLatinwordstoo.Wecanfindmanywordgamesusedin--19 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsthetext,likepuns,switchsoundsandsoon.Althoughthewordgamesarenothelpfultotheunderstandingofthethemes,butitmakesthenovelmoreentertainingandthereaderslovetotakepartinguessingtherealmeaningshiddeninthewords.SoNabokovwouldliketousewordgamestointerestthereaderstomakethemparticipateintherecreationofthework.Theymustusetheirownimaginationtothinkaboutthedeepermeaningofawordorasentence.Duringthethinkingprocess,theblankswillbefilledbythereaders.Whenwereadthenovel,wewillfindaminorcharacterinthenovel:VivianDarkbom.Maybethereadersregarditonlyasacommonname,butthecarefulreaderswillnoticethatthefifteenlettersinthenameareexactlythesameonesin“VladimirNabokov”.Itisjustadifferentcombinationoftheauthor’snamewhichimpliesthattheauthorisinthenovel,too.Nabokovwouldliketoplayawordgameonanameandbydoingthis,thereadersshouldbecarefulenoughtofindthedeepermeaninginit.Sothenameinthenovelisakindofblankswhichgivethereadersenoughspacetoimagine.WhenwegoonreadingwewillfindViviancreatesthedramawithQuilty,andLolitaplaystherole.SoViviancanbeseenasNabokovinthenovel,thatistosay,thedramaisactuallydirectedbybothQuiltyandtheauthor,Nabokov.ThedesignofViviangivesthereadersbigspacetoimagine.Sheisamysteriouscharacterinthisnovelandthereaderswillkeeptheircuriosityforthiswomanallthetime.Whetherornotsheistherepresentoftheauthorinthenovelwillattractedthereaderstoreadthenovelallthetime.What’smore,weknowMrsHazewasknockeddownbyapassingcarwhichwashiddenfromadog.Whyadog?Arethereanydeepermeanings?Whenreadersnoticethis,theywillsearchfortheanswersbythinkingtwice.Carefulreaderswillnoticethattheword“DOG”isconsistedby“D”“O””G”.ThewordGODisalsomadeupbythesethreeletters.SothissimplewordimpliesthatMrsHazz‘sdeathisdoomedbytheGod.JustthreelettersconveysomuchinformationanditisablankNabokovleavestohisreaders.WecanseeNabokov’sgreatnessinusingwordgames.Atthesametime,thereadersneedtothinkandunderstandthedeepermeaning.Exceptforthelettersinthewords,thenumbersarealsomeaningful.HumbertfirstmetLolitaatherhome,whichislocatedinNumber324.Whiletheyliveinthehotelwheretheirroomnumberisjust324andtheypassed324hotelsalongtheway.So,thenumber324isaspecialnumberinthisnovel.Justanumbergivesreaderssomuchspacetofillin.Whenreadersreadthisnovel,theyneedtothinkwiththeauthor,onlyinthiswaycantheyfindsomethingmoreattractiveinthenovel.Withsomanyexamples,itisnodoubtthatNabokovisreallyamasteroflanguage.Somanycoincidencesprovidethereaderswithmanyvividdetails,whichmakereadersfeelitreallyhappened.Butthoseareonlyillusionsmadebywords.Itislikeblankswhichgivereadersahugespacetoimagine.Theyneedtothinkoverandovertodigthedeepmeaning.Sotheuseofwordgamesinthenovelisanimportantapproachtocreatesomeblankswhichneedthereaders’participation.Ifreadersjustregardthenamesornumbersasordinaryones,theywillfailtoconnectthewholetext.Onthecontrary,iftheydid,theywillbeapartofthe--20 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文creationoftheworkandatthesametime,morefunwillbefound.3.1.2TheIronyandParodyintheNovelTheuseofironyandparodyisalsoakindofsemanticblanks.InLolita,therearemanyparodiesusedinthenovelandtherealwaysexitsakindofironicattitude.Byusingtheironyandparody,readersneedtothinkabouttheoriginalimagesandthetrueattitudeoftheauthor’s.Soduringthereading,readersareimportantfortheworkandtheycreatethenovelwiththeauthoratthesametime.InLolita,theauthorusesaridiculousattitudetonarrativethepainfulstory,causingthemismatchbetweenthecontentofthestoryandthenarrativeattitude.Whilethemismatchconveysakindofironywhichisusedtocriticize,denyandmocktheconductionofHumbert.Therearemanymethodstoformtheironiceffect,suchasthevoiceofthewriterorthenarrativetone,theauthor’sinterventionassessments,theauthors’controlaboutvariousdistance,thecontrolleddescriptionornarrativeway,parodyofuniquestructuresandsoon.Whilebyusingalotofparodies,Nabokovexpresseshisvoiceofirony.Themostobviousfunctioncausedbyparodyisirony,whichleadstotheeffectofcomedybydistortingandexaggeration.Intheparodyingworks,therearetwotexts,oneistheoriginalwork,andtheotheristheonebeingparodied.Byarousingthesimilarmemoryaboutthetextbeingparaded,thereaderscanfindthemockeryofthepreviousknowledge,emotionandfaithlyinginthetext.InNabokov’snovels,therearealotofironiesusedtoentertainthereaders.InLolita,thereareparodiesoftheliteraturetradition,theliteraturestyleandthethemeofthenovel.TherelationshipbetweenHumbertandQuilityisshowingDostoevsky’sdoublefigures，Humbert’spedophiliaironiesFreud’spsychoanalysis,andhealsoparodiesthetraditionalliteratureinavarietyofstyles,liketheConfessions,highwayliterature,detectivenovelsandsoon.ByparodyingConfession,NabokovwantstoexposeHumbert’ssurfaceconfessionalvoice,forcinghimtounveilhishypocriticalmaskandshowhiscrimeburiedundertherhetoricalwords.ThefirstchapterandtheprologuetellthereadersthisisaConfessionandthesentenceslike“Ladiesandgentlemenofthejury”tellthereadersthisisacondemnedprisoner’sstatementsandrepentinthecourtwiththetoneofconfession.OutofparodiesofConfessions,itmakesthenarrator’ssincerevoicefunnyatlast,andthereadersrealizewhotheliaris.Ifthereadersdidn’trealizethatit’sanironicnovel,readingwouldbeadisasterforthereaders.Thereadersmusttrytofind,followandkeeptheclueofthestorysoastoanalyzeandunderstandthemainideaofthetext.IfreadersignoretheironiesinLolita,theywillmisunderstoodandquestionthenovel.Butwhentheyrealizetheironies,theywillachieveakindofhappiness.Nabokovtakesthereadersatdifferentlevelsintoconsiderationwhenhewrotethenovel,soitisatestforthereaders,too.SoalltheparodiesusedinthenovelareblanksthatNabokovleavesforthereaderstofillin.Theyneedtothinkallthetimeduringthereadingprocessbecausetheyarepartofthenovel.--21 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics3.2StructuralBlanksinLolitaStructuralBlanksmeanstheblanksinthestructureofatext.Wecancallit“TheResponse–InvitingStructureofText”.Iserfirstputforward“Response-InvitingStructureofText”in1970whichwasalsocalled“BlankTheory”anditmeantthattherewasakindoffunctionalstructuretoinvitethereaders’readingresponseintheliterarytext.Thisisaspecialfeatureexitinginthetextitself.ThetermdevelopedfromRomanIngardernwhoputforward“placeofindeterminacy”.Hethought“aplaceofindeterminacywastheaspectorpartoftheportrayedobjectwhichwasnotspecificallydeterminedbythetext.Manyaspectsportrayedintheliteraryworkofart,especiallythedescriptionsofwhathappenstopeopleandthingsincludemanynumberofplacesofindeterminacy.”(Roman1973:50)IseragreedwithIngarden,butheaddedhisownunderstandingandputforwardtheconceptof“BlankTheory”.InIser’sopinion,placesofindeterminacywasusedtomeanagapinthesequenceoftheschematicaspectsorinthedeterminacyoftheintentionalobjectanditindicatedtheindeterminatepartsoftheindividualobjectwhichaskedforfulfillment.Butthe“blanks”meantthebrokenconnectionofthewholetextwhichhadtobeconnected.Indeterminacywasthegapbetweenthefamiliarityandunfamiliarityandablankwasformedbecauseoftheindeterminacyofthetext.Becauseoftheindeterminacyandtheblanks,thetextinspiredreaderstoexplorethesignificanceoftheworkswiththeirownimaginationandturntheexperienceofothersintotheirexperience.Theuncertaintyortheblankofmeaningencouragedreaderstotakepartinthecreationoftheworksandtofulfilltheuncertainpoints.Sotheindeterminacyofthetextisaveryimportantcharacteristicofliterarytext.Thecommunicationbetweenthereaderandthetextreproducethemeaningofthetextbecausethereadersaddtheirownexperienceandunderstanding.Thatistosay,aliterarywork’smeaningisnotonlyexitinginthetext,butalsoisgeneratedduringtheprocessofreading.Themoreblanks,themorenumbersofpossibilitiesforthereadertointerpretthetext.Theplots,narratorsandcharactersofthenovelaredesignedaccordingtothesequenceofthetimeandspace.Somebrokenpartswillappearinthepointoftheconnection,duringwhich,thestructuralblanksform.Nabokovhasmadeathoughtfularrangementfortheeventsandthecharacters.Intheprologue,hehasusedDr.JohnRaytorevealthefinalfateofthemaincharacters.ReadersaresurprisedaboutthedeathsofbothLolitaandHumbert.Therevealoftheendandtheconfessionofthebodyformblankswhichgivereadersmorechancestothink.Thiskindofblankswillpromotereaders’readinginterest.Forthereaders,themostconfusingquestionmaybewhotookLolitaawayfromHumbert.Althoughsomereaderscanguesswhoitis,theyhaven’tbeenconfirmed.Itisablankwhichneedsreaderstoreadagainandagaintofindsomethingrelevant.Duringthisreadingprocess,moredetailedinformationcanberecalledandQuilty,whoislikeaghostexistinginthenovel,cometoreaders’mind.--22 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文Becauseoftheblanks,readersareencouragedtotakepartintheimaginationandthefulfillmentofthebrokenparts,whichmakethemhaveafurtherunderstandingofthenovel.3.2.1MultipleNarrativesMultiplenarrativesareusedinLolitabyNabokov.Soduringthereading,thereadersneedtoshifttheirattentionallthetimeandtheyneedtothinkaboutthetruenarrator.Somanydifferentnarratorsaretheblanksforthereadertousetheirownimaginationtotellwhichtherealoneis.Intheprologueofthenovel,NabokovtellsusthehistoryofthetextbythedescriptionofJohnRay,Jr.JohnRay,JrisacharactercreatedbyNabokov.ItseemsalltheviewsareexpressedbyJohnRay,Jr,whichmakesNabokovavoidblamingforimmoralityandHumbertisthepersonwhoisresponsibleforhisownimmorality.What’smore,theappearanceofJohnRaygivesthereaderstheresourceofthemanuscriptandthedetailsaboutthecharacters,whichmakesthenovelmoreauthentic.Whenreadersreadit,theywouldliketobelieveitinnodoubt.ThemainbodyofthenovelisdescribedbyHumbertandthepostscriptiswrittenbytheauthorhimself.Thestructureofthenovelhintsthattheambiguityanduncertaintyofthestory.Themainbodyofthenovelisdescribedfromtheperspectiveoffirst-personnarrativepointofview.ItmeansthatHumbertistellingthestory.Thenarrativewayisthemostdirectandthemostflexibleanditisalsoeasyforthereaderstobelievetheauthenticityofthenovelandbetouchedbythenovel.Butsometimesreaderswilldoubtitbecausethenarrativeandtheheroarethesameperson.Thehero,HumberthinksLolitaislovely,beautifulandsexy,butintheviewofthereaders,Lolitaisonlyayounggirlwhoisprecocious.SheisanangelintheeyeofHumbert,butactually,sheismorecomplicatedthenhethought.ThetrueLolitaisamystery,becausesheneitherspeaksforherselfonce,nordoessheappeardirectlyinthetext.So“whatisshe”isaquestionwhichneedsthereaderstodecide.Mosttime,thenovelistoldbyHumbert,butsometimes,itsuddenlychanged,“I”changedinto“theauthor”or“Humbert”,inotherwords,hetellsthestorybythethirdpersonpointofview,whichmakesreadershardtotellwhoistherealnarratorandwhetherthestoryisbelievable.Forexample”Annabelwas,likethewriter,ofmixedparentage…”.(Vladimir2005:11)Thewriterinthesentenceisthenarrator,Humbert.Thiskindofwritingtechniqueiscalled“Defamiliarzation”.Therearemanysuchexamples,like“WhatcouldHumbert,beingintheperfumebusiness,do?”(Vladimir2005:53),“HumbertHumberttiredhardtobegood”.(Vladimir2005:20)Alltheseexamplesbreaktheharmonybetweenthereadersandthenarrator.Theysometimesfeelthatthenarratortalksaboutastorywhichistotallyunrelatedwithhim.Becauseofthemultiplenarratives,thetextgivesreadersasenseofdistance,whichneedsthereaderstoconnect.--23 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAesthetics3.2.2TheAbsenceofLolitaThewholestoryisdescribedtotallybyamiddle-agedwindow---Humbert.ThereisnodoubtthatHumbertisthemaincharacterofthenovel,butastheothermaincharacter,Lolitaisalwayskeepingsilentanddoesn’tappearinthenovelfromthestarttotheend.Noasignalwordissaidbyherselforanactiondonebyherself.TheLolitaweknowismadeupbythemalecharacter,Humbert,theauthorNabokovandthereadersalltogether.TheabsenceofLolitaisatypicalexampleforthestructuralblanks.NabokovmakesLolitasilentandlackdirectspeech,behaviorandemotiondescription.Thesespecialarrangementswillbehelpfulforthereaderstoimagineandexplorethewholestory.InHumbert’seye,Lolitaisthemirrorofhischildhood,whichisanillusion.Intheauthor’seye,Lolitaisjustabeautifulyounggirl,whichisarealexistence.Whileinthereaders’eye,Lolitaisacombinationoftheillusionandtherealexistence,whichisakindofrecreation.ButwhatistherealLolitalike?Whichimageismorebelievable?WhosewordscanwebelievewhenLolitaisonlylivinginaman’swords?Isshearealangeloranevilonearth？Whenreadersfinishthenovel,allofthequestionswillcomeupintheirminds.Theseblanksinstructurewillinevitablyarousereaders’curiosityandstimulatetheirendlessimaginations,callingforthemtofulfilltheblanks.Inthereaders’eyes,Lolitaisdistinctivebecauseherimageisdecidedbytheirimagination.Humbertisnotthelastdecider,northeauthor,butthemillionsofreadersfromdifferentcountriesanddifferenttimes.Thereisnodoubt,becauseoftheabsenceofLolitathenovelismoreappealingtothereaders.Whilereading,theyneedtothinkanddeicide,kindoflikeparticipatinginthecreationofthenovel,whichiskindofsuccessforthenovel.Maybethisisalsothemysteryoftheblanksinthenovel.--24 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文4TheReconstructionofReaders’HorizonofExpectationThereconstructionofreaders’horizonofexpectationmeansduringthereadingprocess,readers’expectationwillbebrokenandtheyneedtoreconstructit.InJauss’sopinion,thehorizonofexpectationisthecertainexpectationfortheworkbeforereading.Italsocanbeunderstoodasakindofexpectationbasedonpre-readingorpre-knowledgeinreader’smind,whichisformedbeforethereadingprocess.Itisformedbyreaders’literaryreadingexperienceintheprocessofreading.Jaussconnectsthetextbothwiththewriterandthereaders.4.1Readers’HorizonofExpectationWhenwereadLolitacarefully,therearemanysourcesinthebooksatisfyingreader’shorizonofexpectation.People’slivingbackgroundandtheeagerforthelovestoryareallwhatappealtothereaders.Inthefollowingpart,theauthorwouldtochoosethreeelementsinthenoveltoanalyzehowtheinformationfitsitintoreaders’horizonofexpectation.4.1.1TheSocialBackgroundThenovelissetinEuropeinthe1930sand1940sandtheUnitedStatesinthelate1940sand1950s.AmericahasdevelopedveryquicklyaftertheWorldWarIIbutthelifeseemsverydull.ThepopularculturewasspreadinAmericaandithasclearlymadegreatinfluenceonthechild’slimitedexperience.Popularculturemeans“whatismostpopulariswhatappealstothemostpeople’anditservestheinterestofthepeople.ThepeoplerefertothemiddleclassgroupsinAmerica.SoLolitaisapost-warpictureandthefastdevelopmentofAmericaquicklyputAmericaintoanindustrializedwealthycountry.Peoplewerecrazyaboutmoneyandtheyhadnodreams.Theylikedshoppingandpursuedmaterialenjoyment.Everythinginthesocietybecamecommoditieswaitingtobebought,allkindsofculturalcarriersormassmediaincluded.Carsbecamethecommonproductspeopleenjoyed.Naturally,thedevelopmentsofcarsindustryalsopromotedthespringupofthemotels.InLolita,therearemanysceneshappenedincarsandmotels,soNabokovwantstodescribethechaosofmotelsinAmerica.Besides,inordertostimulatetheconsumptionofthenewproducts,advertisementswereriseinAmerica.ThephilistineartofadvertisingandthemassmediaexertsahypnoticinfluenceontheyoungadultsinAmerica.SoinLolitaAmericaissurroundedbymotels,moves,phones,radios,newspapers,magazines,advertisementsandbooksforentertainment.What’smore,Dewey’spragmatismeducationdominatedAmericaalmost30yearsandithadhugeeffectonthechildren’smind.Withtheguideof“Educationislife”,manysummercampswerestartedinordertodevelopstudents’differentaspects.Butinfact,whatthestudentshadlearnedwasnothinglikethis.Thepointof“Educationislife”didn’tbringstudentstheperfectconnectionbetweenschoolsandsociety,butsomeimmoralpointsofviews.Sointhiskindofsociety,Lolita--25 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticswaswritten.4.1.2ThePublics’ExpectationHorizonfromtheThemeoftheNovelInJauss’sopinion,thehorizonofexpectationisthecertainexpectationfortheworkbeforereading.Italsocanbeunderstoodasakindofexpectationbasedonpre-readingorpre-knowledgeinreader’smind,whichisformedbeforethereadingprocess.Itisformedbyreaders’literaryreadingexperienceintheprocessofreading.Jaussregardsthereceptionofliteraryworksastheprocessforareadertoestablishhishorizonofexpectations.Hethinkswhenareader’shorizonofexpectationintegrateswithawork,itiseasyforthereadertoaccentandunderstandthetext.BecauseLolitahadbeenregardedasimmoralbyseveralpublishersandcriticsareholdingnegativepointsforit,thecommentsonLolitaatfirstarenegative.What’smore,thecriticsalsohavecontroversialcommentsonit.Theystudytheworksjustfromthesubjectorthethemebecausetheywanttoknowifthisworkisimmoral.Attheearlyage,mostoftheresearchersareinterestedinthesubjectofthenovel.Theresearcheswanttoknowwhatthenovelreallysymbolizesorwhatmoralsignificanceitmeans.Inthisbook,thelovebetweenHumbertandLolitaisunethicalandtherearesomedescriptionsofsexwhichirritatethereaders.Somanypublishersseethisnovelassinfulpornographyandrefusedtopublishit.Until1955itwasputoutbyOlympiaPressinParis.Becauseofitsspecialcontentanditsunexpectedsuccess,moreandmoreattentionhasbeenattractedtothebook.Atfirst,mostcriticsarestillnotsureifithasgreatliteraryvalue.Inthe1950s,averyfamouscriticinUS,LionelTrillingexpresseshisideainTheLastLover:VN’sLolitathatLolitahasnothingtodowithmorality,aswellassex.Hesupposesthenovel’slovestoryconstitutesageneralsatireofpeople’smoralsimplicityand“aparticularsatireuponthepeculiarsexualhypocrisyofAmericanlife”.SoLolitaisjustaromanticnovelthatseldomappearsinthemodernperiod.AlthoughNabokovclaimsthathejusttriestogainaestheticblissbycreatingthisnovelwithnoaimofteachingalesson,somecriticsstillholdtheideathatthenovelisasymboloftheagingEuropeanintellectualcomingtoAmerica,fallinginlovewithitbutfindit,sadly,alittleimmature.AndinthisHumbertisseenastheEuropeanandLolitaistheimmatureAmerica.WhileDavidRamptonarguesthatthecriticsshouldpayattentionontheartthebookitselfratherthanonitsmoralconcernsinhispaperValdimirNabokov:aCriticalStudyoftheNovels.Thensomescholarsturntoexplorethethemeofthisnovel.StephenJanParkerseesthisnovelas“thesupremenovelofloveinthe2thcentry.”(Parker1987)Soinhismind,heemphasizesthelovethemeandagreesthereexitslovebetweenHumbertandLolita.Thecommentsofthecriticshavebigeffectsonthepublics.Becauseoftheirfurtherstudy,theyfinallyhavefurtherunderstandingofthenovel,whichmakesthecontroversialnovelmorewell-knownbythepeopleallaroundtheworld.Soreaders’expectationforthisnovelisrelativelyhigh.Becausereadersaregreatlyinfluencedbythemassmediaandtheywouldnotlike--26 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文toacceptanimmoralwork.Withthetimegoingon,moreandmorereadershavechancetoreadthenovel.Maybeatfirsttheyarecuriousaboutthereasonwhythisnovelwasforbiddentopublishorsomeofthemjustregarditasaneroticnovel.Becauseofthespeciallove,readerswillhavetheirownjudgmentsbeforereadingthestory.Atthattime,thelovebetweenamiddle-agemanandayounggirlisrareandregardedasimmoral.Andthiskindofstoryalsobreaksreaders’previousreadingexperienceortraditionalconceptforlove.Peoplehardtoacceptbutatthesametimetheyarecuriousaboutthestory.InthiswayLolitaattractslotsofreaders’attentionandiftheyhavechance,theywouldliketoreadthiscontroversialnovelbythemselves.Duringthereadingprocess,theirexpectationsarereconstructedandtheywillfindthevalueinthework.4.1.3TheReaders’ExpectationfromtheMainCharactersWhenwetrytounderstandathing,wewouldbring“prejudice”intotheprocess.Sowhenreadersreadanovel,severalfactorswillbeinvolvedinthereadingprocess,includingtheirlifeexperience,theireducationbackgroundaswellastheiranalysisability.Forthesemaincharacters,readershavetheirownexpectationsbeforereading.Withtheexpectations,readersareattractedtoreadthenovel.4.1.3.1TheExpectationfromHumbertReaders’expectationswillbeinfluencedbytheauthor’sintentionwhichisthemostcommonphenomenonintheliteratureesthetics.Inthiswaythereadersunderstandandaccepttheauthor’sobviousintention.Humbertisamiddle-agedmanwhoiswelleducatedinEurope.AftermovingtotheUnitedStates,hemetLolitaandfellinlovewithher.Humbert’sappearanceatfirsisaguiltymanwhoisinjail.Apparently,itishardforthereaderstoacceptsuchamaincharacterwhowillcontrolthewholestory.Atfirst,peoplewillregardHumbertasabadguy.Butafterfurtherreading,hisbehaviorandhisconfessionmakeakindofuncertainty.Firstofall,Humbertmakehisconfessionfullofemotionwhichmakesreadershavesympathywithhim.Whileactually,heisjustastubbornscholarwhocannotescapefromtheconstraintsofthesocialmorality.Hisworldissplitandhelivedinafictionalizedworldwhichcannotbeacceptedintherealworld.SoHumbertisacharacterwhoiscontroversialhimself.Duringthereadingprocess,readerswillfindtheuncertaintyofHumbert,thenarrator,andtheywillhavetheirownunderstandingaboutthecharacter.Beforereadingthestory,thereaderswouldcertainlyregardHumbertasanevilbecausethelovebetweenamiddle-agedmanandayounggirlisimmoralinthesociety.Thiskindofloveisbeyondtheacceptanceofthereadersatthattime.SoHumbertisabadguyinreaders’mind.ButdidNabokovdescribeHumertasanevil?Obviouslytheanswerisno.Nabokovjustwantstoshowthemantothepublicandsometimesheevenshowshissympathyforhim.Sotheauthordidn’tmeantocriticizeHumbetandthereadersneedtomaketheirownjudgesonHumbertafterreading.However,thepublic--27 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticscommentsalsohavegreateffectonthereaders’expectation.ThewelcomeofLolitaaroundtheworldshowsthisnovelmastersthepulseoftheera.Inthenovel,therearemanyconfessionsmadebyHumbertandsometimeswecanfeelHumbertisnotasevilaswethought.Heisamanwhoisaddictedtothepastandheoftendenieshisownthoughtsorbehaviors.SothereaderswillfindtheirexpectationsforHumbertmaybebrokensuddenly.Butbecauseofthiskindofexpectation,readerscaninvolveinthenovelandtheywilladjusttheirunderstandingsallthetime.4.1.3.2TheExpectationfromLolitaLolitaisayounggirlwhoisbeautifulandlovely.SheliveswithhermotherandiseducatedinschoolwhoisapplyingPragmatismGrowingupinthe1950sofAmerica.Sheisgreatlyinfluencedbythesocietyenvironment.AmericanhasspreadveryquicklyaftertheWorldWarIIbutthelifeseemsverydull.ThepopularculturewasspreadinAmericaandithasclearlymadegreatinfluenceonthechild’slimitedexperience.Popularculturemeans“whatismostpopulariswhatappealstothemostpeople’anditservestheinterestofthepeople.Peoplewerecrazyaboutmoneyandtheyhadnodreams.Theylikedshoppingandpursuedmaterialenjoyment.Everythinginthesocietybecamecommoditieswaitingtobebought,allkindsofculturalcarriersormassmediaincluded.Besides,inordertostimulatetheconsumptionofthenewproducts,advertisementsroseinAmerica.ThephilistineartofadvertisingandthemassmediaexertahypnoticinfluenceontheyoungadultsinAmerica.What’smore,Dewey’spragmatismeducationdominatedAmericaalmost30yearsandithadhugeeffectonthechildren’smind.Withtheguideof“Educationislife”,manysummercampswerestartedinordertodevelopstudents’differentaspects.Livingunderthisenvironment,Lolitaisaddictedtosomefashionablethings,likegoshoppingwiththeguideofadvertisements.Shealsolikesdancingandsinging.Maybeatfirst,readerswouldthinkofLolitaasapureandinnocentgirl.Afterhermother’sdeath,shewasaloneandhadnochoicebuttofollowherstepfather,Humbert.WhenHumbettriedtoseduceher,thereaderswouldfeelsympatheticforherbecausesheisonlyapoorgirl.SoLolitathischaractergreatlyarousesreaders’readinginterestandtheywouldliketoreadfurthertoknowwhathappenedtothispoorgirl.Readers’expectationfromLolitaisthatsheisatragedy.Butwhenreadersreadfurther,theywouldfindLolitaisnotasinnocentastheyexpected.Sheismorecomplicatedandknowsmorethingsaboutsex.Whentheylivedinthemotel,itwasLolitathatthefirstonetoseduceHumbert.Soitbreaksreaders’expectationandbecauseofthisreaderswouldliketoreadfurthertofindthetrueLolita.4.2TheReconstructionofReaders’HorizonofExpectationThereconstructionofreaders’horizonofexpectationmeansduringthereadingprocess,readers’expectationwillbebrokenandtheyneedtoreconstructit.Lolitaisagreatworknotonlybecausethereaders’horizonofexpectationhasbeensatisfied,but--28 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文alsobecauseithassuccessfullyreconstructreaders’horizonofexpectation.Theplotofthestoryhasattractedthereaderstoreadfurther.InJauss’sopinion,thehorizonofexpectationisthecertainexpectationfortheworkbeforereading.Italsocanbeunderstoodasakindofexpectationbasedonpre-readingorpre-knowledgeinreader’smind,whichisformedbeforethereadingprocess.Itisformedbyreaders’literaryreadingexperienceintheprocessofreading.Jaussconnectsthetextbothwiththewriterandthereaders.Foraliterarywork,therealizationofreaders’HorizonofExpectationisthebasicthing,whilethereconstructionoftheHorizonisthemostimportantthingtomakereadershavemoreinterest.Howeverduringthereadingprocess,ifthereadingconsciousnessiscompletelythesamewithhispreviousexpectation,readerswillfeelboredbecauseitseemsnothingnewinthecontenttostimulatethem.Butiftheinformationinthecontentisaestheticallydifferentfromhisexpectationwhichmeansitbreaksreaders’horizonofexpectation,thereaderswillfeelexcitedtoreaditfurther.TheauthorwillanalyzeLolitafromtheplotandartisticfeaturestoseethisnovelhowtoreconstructreaders’horizonofexpectationandwhythereconstructionappealstoreaders.4.2.1SubversionoftheTraditionalLoveStoryThelovebetweenamiddle-agedmanandatwelve-year-oldyounggirlwasunacceptableformanyreadersatfirstespeciallythosewholivedinthe1950s.Althoughthesocietyatthattimewasopentomanynewthingsandalotofchangeshadhappened,peoplestillcouldn’tacceptthiskindofimmorallove.Traditionallovestoriesnearlyallhappenedbetweenthemanandwomanintherightage.ButLolitawasalovestoryfullofdispute.LolitaortheConfessionofaWhiteWidowedMalewasastoryaboutlove.Whileitwasalsoanabnormallovebetweenamiddle-agedman,HumbertHumbert,withhisstepdaughter,Lolita,whowasonlyfourteen.ThewholestorywasnarratedbyHumbertinchronologicalorder.HumbertwasborninParis.Whenhewasyoung,hefellinlovewithagirlnamedAnnabel.Butunfortunately,AnnabeldiedsuddenlyandHumbertlosthislove.Butfromthenon,Humberthadbeenobsessedwithapassionforwhathecalledthenymphets,orgirlsagedninetofourteen.WhenhemovedtoAmerica,helivedinthehouseofCharlotteHaze.Inherhouse,hecameacrossHaze’sbeautifulyoungdaughter—Lolita.HefellinlovewithLolita,whileMrsHazeadmiredhimandwishedtomarryhim.Atlast,HumbertagreedtomarryHazeonlybecausethismarriagecankeephimandLolitatogether.HumbertwrotedownallhisloveforLolitainhisdairywhichwasfoundbyMrsHazeoneday.Shecouldn’tstanduphishusband’sbehaviorandwantedtoconcealhim.Whileonherwayout,shediedinacaraccident.SoHumberttooktheresponsibilityoftakingcareofLolitanaturally,whichmadehimfeelexcitedwithoutanyguilt.Whileinthefollowingyears,HumbertdroveLolitafromonestatetoanther.WhentheystayedintheEnchantedHuntersHotel,HumbertandLolitahadsexwith--29 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticseachother,whichmadetheirrelationshipmorecomplex.ButforLolita,shecouldgetsomeawardsfromkeepingclosetoHumbert.AtfirstreaderswouldthinkHumbertisanevilwhileLolitaisalonelygirlwhoneedslove.ButthebehaviorsofLolitaisquitedifferentfrompeople’simagination.Lolitaisnotasinnocentasthereadershadexpected.Whengrowingup,Lolitawaseagerforanordinary’slifeandfeltsickoftherelationshipbetweenherandhisstepfather.Soshechosetorunawaywithaplaywriter,ClareQuilty.HumbertlookedforLolitaeverywhereandfinallyaletterfromLolitamadehimknowthatshehadbeenmarriedandwaswaitingforthebirthofherbaby.WhenaskedLolitaifshewantedtogowithhim,sherejected.ThisreplymadeHumbertrealizethathecannotpossesLolitaanylongerandheowedallthistoQuilty.Atlast,hekilledQuiltyforrevengeandgotarrestedhimself.Finally,HumbertdiedofcoronarythrombosisinprisonandLolitadidofgivingbirthtoherbaby.Theendofthestorywasquitebeyondtheimagination.Noonesurvived.Soitisatragedy.However,afterreadingthestory,itseemshardtoregardHumbertasacompletebadguy.Sometimesfromhisconfession,readerswouldshowtheirsympathiestohim.Duringthereading,readerswouldstilldoubtifLolitaisgoodornot.IfthereislovebetweenHumbertandLolitaisstillaquestionwhichpuzzlesthereadersallthetime.Andthisisquitedifferentfromtraditionallovestory.Althoughthelovebetweenthemisimmoralitself,theystillfeelpityforthem.Thebadguysometimesisforgivenorevensympathizedbythereaders,whichisakindofsubversion.Besides,loveisnottheonlythemeofthenovel,therearemanyotherexplanationforittoo.Forexample,somecriticsregarditasamockoftheAmericansociety.However,theloveisthroughtheplot.Becausethisunusuallove,thereadersaremotivatedtoreadfurtherandfurther.Maybemanyexpectationsarebroken,buttheystillwanttofindsomethingmoreaboutthetruth.4.2.2UniqueArtisticTechnique-SymbolizationAfterreadingLolita,readerswillfeelsurpriseaboutthetheme,themaincharactersaswellassomescenes.Inthenovel,themaincharactermayrepresenttwodifferentthings,whilethescenesnotonlyconstitutetheenvironmentthestoryhappenedbutalsoshoulderthemissionofsymbolization.Besides,thescenesarethetoolswhichareusedtopromotethedevelopmentofplotandreflectthesocietyenvironment.Afterreadingthenovel,readerswillbesurprisedtofindthattherearedeepermeaningsofthescenesandthestoryhappenedinacomplicateddesignedenvironment.Thesymbolizationsbreakreaders’expectationandtheyneedtoreconstructthecontentwiththeirimaginationduringthereadingprocess.Theauthorwillanalyzethesymbolizationofthecharactersandscenestoseethedeepermeaningsbehindit.--30 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文4.2.2.1SymbolizationofCharactersHumbertandLolitaarethetwomaincharactersinthenovel,oneisamiddle-agedmanandtheotherisayounggirl.Beforereadingthenovel,readerswouldregardHumbertasanevilandLolitaasapoorgirl.Butafterreadingit,readerswouldfindthattherearemoremeaningsbehindthesetwocharacters.Sowhatisthesymbolizationofthem?Accordingtotheunderstandingaboutthethemeofthenovel,therearedifferentopinions.HumbertcanbeasymbolofthedeclineofEuropeanculturewhileLolitacanbeasymboloftheprosperousdevelopmentofAmericaculture.BecauseHumbertcamefromEuropeandheisatypicalEuropeman.Lolitalivesinthefast-developedAmericaandafterWouldWarII,thefastdevelopmentofAmericaquicklyputAmericaintoanindustrializedwealthycountry.Peoplewerecrazyaboutmoneyandtheyhadnodreams.Theylikedshoppingandpursuedmaterialenjoyment.Everythinginthesocietybecamecommoditieswaitingtobebought,allkindsofculturalcarriersormassmediaincluded.Besides,inordertostimulatetheconsumptionofthenewproducts,advertisementsweredevelopingfastinAmerica.ThephilistineartofadvertisingandthemassmediaexertsahypnoticinfluenceontheyoungadultsinAmerica.LolitaisasymboloftherisingAmerica.Sointherespectofpolitics,readerscanseethattheoldEuropeisseducedbyyoungAmerica.Thisisthesymbolizationofthetwocharacterswhichinterestreaderstoreadfurther.Humbertcanalsobeseenasamanwhoislostinthepast.BecauseinHumbert’schildhood,ayounggirlheloveddiedsuddenly,hehasbeenfascinatedbythegirlsagedbetweentwelveyearsoldandfifteenyearsold.Lolitaisjustsuchagirl.SoHumbet’sloveforLolitaisjustasymbolizationthathelostinthepast.Hedon’twanttoliveintodayorinthefuture.Insomeway,Humbertcanbeasymbolthathumansinkintothechallengetoundefeatedtimebecauseofstupidityandwildfancy.Anditisthedesireandwildfancythatleadtotheeternaltragedyofbeinglostinthedesireandtime.Becauseofthesymbolizationofthecharacters,readerswillusetheirimaginationtofilltheblanksandconstructtheirexpectation.Theywanttoreadfurthertofindmoreinformationbehindit.4.2.3SymbolizationofScenesTherearemanyscenesinthenovel.thefirstimportantsymbolizationinthenovelisthemirrorsintheroom.WhenHumbertwenttothe“TheEnchantedHunter”Hotel,mirrorsappearedseveraltimesinNabokov’sdescriptionfortheroom.Whileitisinthisroomwhichseemsbright,HumbertandLolitasteppedintoabyssofincest.ThebrightnessofthemirrorsreflectedthedarknessinHumbert’smindanditsHumvert’sevilruinsLolita.Besides,thereisantherscenehappenedwiththepresenceofthemirrors.AfterknowingLolitagonewithQuilty,HumbertwenttofindQulity.WhendescribingtheroomofQuilty,thereisabigandbrightmirror.Themirrorsetsoffthedistortionofhumanityofthesetwomen.Mirrorshereareusedasatooltosymbolize--31 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticstheevilofthecharactersanditbreaksreaders’horizonwhichintereststhemtoreadthenovelfurtherandtousetheirownimagination.Thenextimportantsymbolizationisthetheater.BecauseLolitaisgreatlyinfluencedbythepopularculture,shelikeswatchingmovieandplayingrolesonthestage.SotheaterisasymbolforLolitatofollowherdream.ForLolita,theatersaretheparadisesofartwhiletheyarealsothetoolsofHumbertandQuilty.HumbertusestheaterasatooltomakeLolitahappywhileQuiltyisaplaywriter.SoQuiltyisattractiveforLolitabecauseofhisidentity.ButitisalsoQuiltywhomLolitaalwaysadmiresthatforceshertomakepornmovieandabandonsheratlast.SothetheaterisadisasterforLolita.Ifreadersonlyregarditasacommonplace,theyarewrong.Thesymbolizationmeaningforthetheaterissoimportantanditbreaksreaders’expectation,whichmakethenovelmoreappealingtothem.Thethirdimportantsymbolizationistheprison.HumbertfinishesthenovelinprisonbecausehekilledQuilty.Infact,Humberthasbeeninthe“prisonofmind”foralongtime.AfterhelostAnnabel,hehaslosthimselfinthetime.Hislovefortheyounggirlmakeshimconcealhimselfinthedarkbecauseheknowsthiskindoflovecannotacceptbythesociety.ThedesignofmotellookslikeprisonandonlyliveinitmakesHumbertfeelsafe.Atlast,Humbertdiesintheprison,whichisthesymbolizationoffreedom.Humbertknowswhathepursesisadreadwhichwillnevercometrueandheisonlytakingriskstostepontheedgeofthesociety.Onlyinprisoncanhebefreeandheconfesseseverythinginanovel.SoNabokovusesprisontobethesymbolofcageaswellasthefreedom.--32 辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文5ConclusionLolita,Nabokov’smostcontroversialandfamousnovel,bringshimhugereputationandrich.Puttingthisnovelintheframeworkofreceptionaesthetics,thisthesishasexploredtheartofblanksandreaders’realizationandreconstructionofhorizonofexpectation,aimingtoprovereaders’vitalfunctioninthereadingprocessaswellasreaders’activeandcreativeimagination.TheexplorationoftheinteractionbetweenreadersandtheliterarytextprovidesanewperspectiveforthestudyofNabokov’smasterpiece.NabokovwaswidelyknowntothereadersbecauseofthepublicationofLolitain1950s.Fromthenon,thereareanumberofresearcherstryingtoanalyzethisnovelfromdifferentperspectives.Andithasbeenthroughdifferentperiods,too.Ongeneral,thestudiesmainlyfocusonthreecategories.Thefirstisaboutthenovel’stheme.Thesecondisaboutthenovel’spostmodernismfeatureswhichexploresthenovelfromtheperspectiveoflanguageskills,techniques,aswellasstructuresandsoon.Andthirdisdiscussedfromtheperspectiveofestheticism.Attheearlyage,mostoftheresearchersareinterestedinthesubjectofthenovel.Inrecentyears,therearemorethesispublishedanalyzingLolitafrommorecreativeperspectives,likefromtheperspectiveofethicalliterarycriticismaswellasfromtheculturestand.ButtherearestillfewcriticsorscholarswhohaveyetanalyzedLolitafromtheperspectiveofreaders.Readersarepartofagreatwork,andtheyareconsideredasthesecondauthorofthework.InordertoprovereadersplayanimportantroleinthereadingprocessandLolitaisagreatnovel,thisthesisexplorestheblanksandreaders’reconstructioninthenovelLolitafromtheperspectiveofaccretionaesthetics,emphasizingtheimportanceofreaders’receptionprocess.Thethesispointsoutthatinthenovel,therearemanyblanksdesignedbyNabokovtoattractthereaders.Theblanksgreatlyarousereaders’readinginterestandmakethemtakepartinthecreationofthework.Sothisthesisshiftsitsattentiontothereaders,exploringthereasonwhytheworkissocharmingandthewriterhowtouseblanksinthetexttoinspirethereadersandhowLolitabothsatisfiesandbreaksthroughthereaders’horizonofexpectation.Besides,italsoemphasizestheimportanceofreaders’reconstructionduringthereadingprocess.Receptionaestheticsbelievesthatitistheindividualreaderwhocreateshisownmeaningthroughinteractionwiththetextratherthantheauthororthetext.Soeachunderstandingisuniqueandsubjectivebecauseallofthereaderswillputtheirownexperience,emotionsandknowledgetotheirreadingprocess,whichmakestheworkcomplete.WhenreadersreadLolita,theyactuallyareinvolvedinthecreationofthenovel.Thereadingprocessisalsotheprocessfortheliterarytexttobetrulyrealized.TheinterpretationofLolitafromtheperspectiveofreceptionaestheticstheoryisanewaspectresearch.ItwouldcertainlyprovideanewwaytostudythewriterNabokovandalsogetabetterunderstandingoftheworkitself.--33 AnanalysisoftheBlankandReaders’ReconstructioninLolitafromthePerspectiveofReceptionAestheticsNabokovhasalwaysbeenregardedasthemasterofart,inLolita,hecreatesmanyblankstoattractandinvitereaderstoparticipateinthetextactivelyandtorecreatethenovelbyusingtheirgreatimagination.Theblanksincludesemanticblanksandstructureblanks.Onthelevelofsemanticblanks,Nabokovuseswordgamesandironyandparodytocallforreaderstoparticipateintheliteratureworkactivelyandusetheirimaginationtofillthesemanticblanks.Onthelevelofstructureblanks,theabsenceofthemaincharacterandthemultiplenarrativeshasleftreaders’greatspacetoimagine.Therearesomanyuncertaintiesinthenovelwhichneedthereaderstofulfill.Becauseoftheseblanks,readersaresoattractivebythenovelduringthereadingprocess.What’smore,Nabokovknowsclearlytheimportanceofreadersintheprocessofcomposingawork.Aliterarycanonlybevaluableafterthereaders’readingandthereadingprocessisjusttheprocessforthereaderstoreconstructthework.Soreaders’positioncannotbeignored.InLolita,Nabokovhasnotonlysatisfiedreaders’horizonofexpectationthroughthelovestoryaccordingtothebackgroundwhichispopularinthatdays,butalsofurtherreconstructedreaders’horizonofexpectationbyusingsomeuniqueartistictechniques,suchassymbolization.Besides,thesubversionofthetraditionallovestoryisalsoabigsurpriseforthereaders.Andtheexpectationfromthemaincharactersisalsobrokenduringthereadingprocess,soreadersneedtoreconstructtheiroriginalthoughts.Bydoingthis,readerskeepthemotivationtoreadfurther.Withthehelpofreaders’horizonofexpectation,Lolitabecomestheworkreaderscannotrejectanditisalsoaconnectionoftheliteraryreceptionandthepracticalworld.Receptionaestheticshiftsthefocusofliterarystudyfromtext-orientedtoreader-orientedwhichisagreatchangefortheliterarystudy.Lolitaperformsitsgreatvaluebyreaders’involvementandinteractionduringthereadingprocess.Aboveall,throughtheanalysisofblanksinthenovelandreaders’reconstructionduringthereadingprocess,thisthesisprovesLolita’greatnessfromtheperspectiveofreceptionaesthetics.ItcanalsooffersomeenlightenmentonthestudiesaboutLolitaaswellasothergreatworks.Withtimegoingon,theanalysisfromtheaspectofreceptionaestheticsstillneedtobefurtherstudied.--34 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辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文AcknowledgementsIwouldliketogivedeepthankstoeveryonewhohashelpedmefromtheearlystagetothefinaldaysofthisthesis.Firstofall,IshouldgivemydeepestgratitudetomysupervisorProfessorGuYeping,whohasgivenmethemostvaluableadviceandencouragement.WhenIfinishedonechapter,hewouldalwaysgivemeinsightfulcommentsonthispart.NomatterwhenIhadanynewideasaboutthethesis,hewoulddiscussthemwithmeandsharedhisopinions.Writingthisthesisisnoteasyforme,butitisProfessorGuYepingwhohasmadethisjourneyofliteratureinterestingandrelaxed.Becauseofhisenlightenment,Ihavefoundmorepleasuresandpossibilitiesinreadingandstudyingliterature.Then,myappreciationalsogoestomyclassmatesfortheirhelpduringmystudyperiod.WheneverIhaveanydifficulties,theywouldgivemesinceresuggestions.Withoutthem,Icouldn’thavefinishedthisthesissmoothly.Lastbutnottheleast,deepthankswillgotomyfamilywhoaremybiggestsupport.Theysharedwithmemyworriesandfrustrations.Withouttheirsupportandlove,Iwouldnevergosofar.37 －一．Ｉ．、？一兰＊三．：巧－；节．令，、如皆：端；幾．纖藝觀，：顧纖寧挪｜’＇，＇＇＇パ、’片＞．，；苗：；Ｖ山括＇；‘＞，ｙ—＾，；＼Ｙ．’’、‘、－．‘／义二；－、Ｖ；＇；Ｉ誦画！ｒｉ＾ｆｃｙ，：額變禱議着駿ｍｍｍｍｍｍＪｒｎｍｍ．：ｊｊ｜麵讓ｉｉｉｌ早：舅綱急曇ｉｉｉｉｉｉｌｉ