Humbert is an evil man. He is sexually fixated on Dolores, his own words and actions condemn him. But since the story is told in first person, we get to see through his eyes.
All of the justification and all of the lies he tells himself and others are right there in front of us. But his evil does not describe the entirety of him. He is also witty and has true feelings. And sometimes he even gets the reader to empathize with him, and that brings up feelings of revulsion in us as we realize we have just connected with an evil man.
Thus is life. There are people all around us full of lies and deceit, and yet they have those who would defend them, even if they can't defend the actions. Why?
Nabakov's story tells us why, because no one sees what they are doing as truly evil. They justify and twist their own view of the world to make their actions seem good, at least to them.
Humbert tells us that Dolores is seducing him. Is she? Of course not, he is lying to us and lying to himself.
Humbert says he is taking Dolores away to keep her safe. Is he? Of course not, he knows he is responsible for her mother's death and for traumatizing and raping a young girl, an he doesn't want to face the consequences.
Even at the end, when he comes upon her again, he lies and manipulates his view or reality to make it seem as if he is rescuing her. What is he rescuing her from? Being married and pregnant.
Humbert's tale isn't one that most people can or should be able to relate to, but Dolores herself is all too common of a character in today's world. Lied to, manipulated, abused and frightened by someone who can't see the evil they have in their heart or the evil they do.
Lolita is a look at the world through the eyes of a pedophilic rapist and psychotic murderer. It isn't a celebration of Humbert, it's a warning that Humbert is out there, and he thinks he is the hero of his story.
Thank you for your gracious response.
Great summary. I read it so long ago I don’t remember, but I identified with Dolores. So, yeah, I agree. It’s not an allegory.