‘THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE’: SURVEYING THE FEAR FACTOR OF STRANGER DANGER THROUGH THE LENS OF NABOKOV’S LOLITA (1955)

‘The Call is Coming from inside the House’ trope, emblematic of betrayal, has permeated both visual and written narratives, evoking dread and questioning characters’ innocence. This paper critically explores the fear instilled by the stranger danger narrative, juxtaposing it with Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita (1955) to underline the insidious nature of domestic abuse. While once a potent social warning, the overuse of the trope has desensitised audiences to domestic violence, rendering it banal. The narrative unpacks how social conditioning perpetuates fear, particularly among women and girls, confining them indoors with potential abusers. Drawing parallels between the narrative of Lolita and real-life instances of grooming and abuse, the paper elucidates how abusers manipulate victims into complicity. By examining Lolita as a lens through which to understand social dynamics, the paper prompts a revaluation of cultural tropes and their implications for gender relations and individual autonomy. Through Humbert Humbert’s manipulation of Lolita’s memories and perceptions, the paper highlights the pervasive control exerted by abusers. The paper advocates for a multilayered understanding of fear and safety, challenging the narratives that perpetuate gender-based violence. It critiques social responses to stranger danger, arguing that they perpetuate victim-blaming culture and fail to address root causes. By unpacking the parallels between the patriarchal culture and grooming tactics, the paper finally exposes the false security offered by domesticity, as in Lolita.