In the afterword to Lolita, Nabokov describes two opposing views of the book, held by two readers. One felt that Lolita was a story of "old Europe poaching young America," while another saw it as "young America poaching old Europe" (p. 314). The question is who or what exactly represents young America and old Europe? In the context of the book, young Dolores Haze is the embodiment of young America and its culture, while Humbert Humbert represents older, refined European culture. Who debauches who is a whole other question. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayWhat exactly is Young America? During the post-war period in which Lolita is set, young America was a new culture of consumers - materialistic, spoiled, obsessed with objects. They are teenagers obsessed with movies, soda fountains and ice rinks. For a European like Humbert, their culture is superficial. Thoughts of Europe conjure up images of cathedrals, fine arts and elegant cuisine. Compared to this, American culture seems cheap and unsophisticated. Culture will prove to be one of the biggest differences between Dolores and Humbert - besides this biggest age difference. Dolly's childish love for Humbert began with the image of a man in an advertisement. Humbert comes across this advertisement in Dolly's room, taped to the wall with the letters "HH" written next to the man's face. It is therefore appropriate that Humbert later remarks: “It was to her that the advertisements were dedicated: the ideal consumer, the subject and object of every filthy poster” (p. 148). In fact, Dolly's desire for consumption would prove profitable for Humbert: it would allow him to buy his love (or perhaps his sex would be a more appropriate term). Humbert takes advantage of the idea of ​​America as a nation of consumers through Dolly. The promise of movie nights, sweater sets, and ice cream sundaes was all that could keep Dolly with Humbert. He marvels at the cost of Dolly's love: "Knowing the magic and power of her own sweet mouth, she succeeded - for one school year!" – to increase the bonus price of a fancy hug to three or even four dollars” (p. 184). ). In a sense, consumerism determines the relationship between Dolly and Humbert. Yet Dolly's "Americanness" is precisely what Humbert hates most about her. He loves most parts of Dolly, as shown in his writings about her. But he can't stand her infatuation with pop culture. He laments: “Mentally, I found her to be a disgusting and conventional little girl. Hot, smooth jazz, square dancing, gooey fudge sundaes, musicals, movie magazines and so on – these were the obvious items on her list of things she loved” (p. 148). Dolly represents a cheap and frivolous culture through Humbert's eyes. Their relationship is made more complex by the opposition that exists in their circles: old Europe cannot identify with young America. Perhaps Dolly was never quite able to satisfy Humbert's desire for his first love, Annabel, because she couldn't be exactly who Annabel was. Annabel was elegant Europe; Dolly was fast food America. Humbert just couldn't connect with Dolly. Humbert's disdain for parts of American culture is evidenced in some of his statements, such as when he describes Mrs. Haze as "Charlotte.