When Humbert and Annabel are about to have sex in the beachside cave, the only witness (at first) is “somebody’s lost pair of sunglasses.” Later, when Humbert Humbert first sees Lolita, she is wearing sunglasses. These doubled sunglasses symbolize the important, almost mystical connection between Annabel and Lolita in Humbert Humbert’s imagination.
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Sunglasses Symbol Timeline in Lolita
The timeline below shows where the symbol Sunglasses appears in Lolita. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Chapter 3
...escape to a cave on the beach, with nothing in it but a pair of sunglasses. They are about to have sex, but are discovered by two older men, who mock...
(full context)
Part 1, Chapter 10
...daughter, whom she calls “Lo,” and “Lolita”—for the first time. Lolita is sunbathing and wears sunglasses. Humbert is immediately overpowered by passionate feelings. He imagines that Lolita is the reincarnation of...
(full context)
