This was a delight to read.
Marcus Messner aims to be independent, to defy the social codes of respectable conduct, moral supremacy, ethical propriety, dignity, and order, the very values that define the 1950s. The backdrop to his rebellion is the Korean War, the symbol of honor, courage, and service.
He insists on not conforming, but instead following his emotions, not the restrictive cultural dictums espoused by those surrounding him. Ever fearful, he mistrusts everyone, especially his father, his roommates, Dean Caudwell, and Olivia.
Ironically, it is this bullheadedness that causes his tragic fate. As Roth observes, "one's most banal, incidental, even comical choices achieve the most disproportionate result."
I consider Marcus a precursor to the progressivism of the 1960s and its unrest against social rigidity.
2 comments:
Philip Roth is the best writer of fiction this country has to offer. Nice review. I may have to read this one!
Yes, you should read it. You cannot get enough Roth!
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