Lolita, Vladimir Nabokov

The story of the planned seduction and illicit affair between Humbert Humbert and a young (initially pre-teen) nymphet affectionately referred to as Lolita. In Humbert's scant defense - Lolita was the initiator of the affair - she seduced him. And Humbert did feel constant remorse. 

In stronger defense of Humbert, he genuinely loved Lolita, stood by her in thick and thin, guarded her vociferously against other pedophiles (he knew the depths of their depravity - much lower than his own). 

Humbert gives Lolita and her husband a lot of money and his blessings upon finding her years after her desertion of him (he still loved her even though she was no longer a nymphet). He also tracks down and kills the pedophile who stole Lolita away from him and tried to force her into sexually depraved slavery. 

So the question to be asked is - can a person with so terrible a flaw as pedophilia actually exhibit nobility of character - even in the act of his depravity? 

And the surprising answer must be - yes (or at least maybe) - making Humbert Humbert not just a scumbag - but a tragic scumbag - by the even strictest definitions. There is hope for all of us!