gest that the reader is encouraged to sympathise and identify with Nabokov’s monstrous male hero in Lolita as a result of the consistent involvement and flattering language directed towards the reader, which enables them to identify and form a relationship with Humbert and provoke positive reinforcement towards such acceptance. Clearly, the reader is encouraged to become involved with Humbert’s narrative, with references to the ‘learned reader’ and ‘astute reader’ which show the enthusiasm of Nabokov to encourage the reader to identify with his narrator. The protagonist is evidently conscious of his readership, reflecting his confident and assured nature as he refers to the reader is part of an intellectual group, calling them ‘unbiased’ to imply that they are open-minded and accepting – and aiding the forming of a relationship between the narratee and narrator to show their likeminded nature and justify Humbert’s actions. Additionally, the possessive pronoun in the phrase ‘my patient reader’ by the end of part one of the text highlights the reader’s acceptance of the narrator, while the continuing complimentary language reflects Humbert’s persuasive and manipulative manner which is concealed beneath the reader’s reaction of flattery and fondness. Within the novel, the reader is encouraged to take an active part in the discourse, undermining the character of Lolita as disabling her ability to gain empathy. Nabokov creates distance between the reader and Lolita, ‘whose meek temper Lo ought to have copied’ which is suggestive of the similarity and compatibility the narrator intends to evoke between Humbert and the narratee, while they are disassociated with Lolita’s suffering. Similarly, frequent addresses to the jury throughout the text imply the central issue of Humbert’s guilt, seen through the phrases ‘winged gentlemen of the jury’ and ‘ladies and gentlemen of the jury’, which put the narrator in a position to be judged and allow him to familiarise himself with the r