Philip Roth once wrote, "I wrote fiction and I'm told it's autobiography. I write autobiography and I'm told it's fiction, so since I'm not dim and they're so smart, let them decide what it is or isn't."
Despite his protests, Roth does not appear to be clear with readers about where to draw the line in his work--between fiction and autobiography. some of his characters have been named Philip Roth. One, named Nathan Zuckerman, seems to clearly act as Roth's mouthpiece. The creator cannot be separated form his creation.
Roth's Jewish background permeates much of his work, and his portrayal of Jewish life (particularly the behavior of Jewish women) has been criticized as enforcing stereotypes. Of course, other critics have found the same works to be filled with humor, irony, and satire--with a postmodern bend.
I am of the former group of critics. While every stereotype contains a grain of truth (or else it would be parody), I do not see the entertaining aspect of such cliched images. Nor, does a rant on masturbating strike me as amusing.
Despite his protests, Roth does not appear to be clear with readers about where to draw the line in his work--between fiction and autobiography. some of his characters have been named Philip Roth. One, named Nathan Zuckerman, seems to clearly act as Roth's mouthpiece. The creator cannot be separated form his creation.
Roth's Jewish background permeates much of his work, and his portrayal of Jewish life (particularly the behavior of Jewish women) has been criticized as enforcing stereotypes. Of course, other critics have found the same works to be filled with humor, irony, and satire--with a postmodern bend.
I am of the former group of critics. While every stereotype contains a grain of truth (or else it would be parody), I do not see the entertaining aspect of such cliched images. Nor, does a rant on masturbating strike me as amusing.
Goodbye, Columbus
Roth's first award-winning novella, "Goodbye, Columbus," follows a summer in the life of Neil Klugman, a library employee staying with his aunt and uncle and carrying on a "romance" with Brenda, who is a young lady from the better side of town. There is no real passion between Neil and Brenda. All they think about is getting laid, avoiding work, ducking out on relatives, and avoiding thought. The fall begins as the summer began--apart. Neil is back at the library and Brenda is back at school.
Needless to say, these characters aren't the sort I'd like to know--flat, bland, cardboard people. Only Neil shows any sign of being a human being, though those signs are dimmer in the presence of Brenda's female platitude. Brenda is a cypher--a non-interesting puzzle. Why does she care for Neil, anyway? Why sleep with HIM? Enjoyment, a sharing of the feast of flesh--they aren't reasons. And if it was such desperate boredom, why didn't she just pick up a book? No--that would require curiosity, and that's some of which she's got none!
Roth's first award-winning novella, "Goodbye, Columbus," follows a summer in the life of Neil Klugman, a library employee staying with his aunt and uncle and carrying on a "romance" with Brenda, who is a young lady from the better side of town. There is no real passion between Neil and Brenda. All they think about is getting laid, avoiding work, ducking out on relatives, and avoiding thought. The fall begins as the summer began--apart. Neil is back at the library and Brenda is back at school.
Needless to say, these characters aren't the sort I'd like to know--flat, bland, cardboard people. Only Neil shows any sign of being a human being, though those signs are dimmer in the presence of Brenda's female platitude. Brenda is a cypher--a non-interesting puzzle. Why does she care for Neil, anyway? Why sleep with HIM? Enjoyment, a sharing of the feast of flesh--they aren't reasons. And if it was such desperate boredom, why didn't she just pick up a book? No--that would require curiosity, and that's some of which she's got none!
The only character with any sort of spark is the most stereotyped--Neil's Aunt Gladys. Yes, she's annoying. She kvetches like a character from the "Nanny" TV show. And yes, she'd make me feign sleep after a few moments of talk. But at least she has character. She is a character, which is more than I can say for Neil and Brenda.
And then, there's the question: Why has "Goodbye, Columbus" been so famous? It isn't funny. It isn't thought-provoking--other than my wondering why Roth wrote it. Maybe, you just had to be there...
Portnoy's Complaint
I don't think anyone would want to be near Portnoy, with his complaint. Maybe it's a guy thing--all the importance placed on masturbation--the where, when, and how. I felt nothing whatsoever for the character. Here, we are eavesdroppers as Portnoy goes into great detail about sex, guilt, and his mother (who is another nightmarish female character: manipulative, stereotypically Jewish, and threatening). With the episode of his mother threatening him with a knife, we get Freud's classic castration theory, with a bit of the Oedipal Complex thrown in.
And then, there's the question: Why has "Goodbye, Columbus" been so famous? It isn't funny. It isn't thought-provoking--other than my wondering why Roth wrote it. Maybe, you just had to be there...
Portnoy's Complaint
I don't think anyone would want to be near Portnoy, with his complaint. Maybe it's a guy thing--all the importance placed on masturbation--the where, when, and how. I felt nothing whatsoever for the character. Here, we are eavesdroppers as Portnoy goes into great detail about sex, guilt, and his mother (who is another nightmarish female character: manipulative, stereotypically Jewish, and threatening). With the episode of his mother threatening him with a knife, we get Freud's classic castration theory, with a bit of the Oedipal Complex thrown in.
Since life is short, why waste precious minutes under the lamp reading cardboard characters, about masturbation, stereotypical characters, and ugly-acting mothers? There are enough other great works out there that enlighten, amuse, involve the reader, provide escape, or just plain educate.
