Much has been said about Philip Roth′s American Pastoral in terms of general criticism. While some critics say it is a book about a writer, the famous novelist Nathan Zuckerman, who somehow comes to terms with the hero of his youth, Seymour "The Swede" Levov, others say that it is "a novel about three generations of family life and, in particular, the rupture between a father and a daughter that embodies the social upheaval of the 60′s." (1) So, who is right? All of them are. It just depends on one′s point of view and one′s focus.
Nathan Zuckerman narrates the story of Seymour Levov, who "is a consummate athlete, husband to Miss New Jersey and heir to a glove factory. […] With his canny eye, Zuckerman gives us the Swede′s rise and fall, from hale high school hero to bastion of mediocrity." (2) Zuckerman′s own story about his childhood in Newark and parts of his life lead to the Levov-story starting on page 89, which is when Zuckerman disappears and does not return as a character. He does come back, though, from time to time when his sarcasm gives him away while telling the story. His sarcastic, personal involvement would certainly be an interesting subject to talk about, along with other themes that run through the novel, e.g. the shifts in perspective, the different settings and their meaning, the question whether "Swede Levov [is] a good innocent man who has the bad luck to become history′s plaything" or whether there is "something significantly wrong with [him]" (3), "the trials of ethnic identity, the fate of Old World values transposed to the New World, the wrenching political confusion of recent American history."(4)
My focus will be on the three generations of the Levovs and their relationships towards each other. Lou, the Swede and Merry are "people as different from one another as they could possibly be, but intimately intertwined." (5) Critics have often said that "family" is a major theme in all of Roth′s works, and American Pastoral is no different. In this novel, too, Roth views "family relationships as extremely problematic and essentially frustrating but acknowledge[s] their importance in human affairs." The problems between parents and children, again, are caused by the lost viability of "traditional ideas of family solidarity and reinforcement of personal identity through strong familial bonds." [...]
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Lou Levov
- Seymour "The Swede" Levov
- Meredith "Merry" Levov
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the sequence of generations in Philip Roth's American Pastoral, focusing on the complex relationships between Lou, Seymour "The Swede," and Merry Levov. It explores how the Levov family, a seemingly typical American family, is impacted by the social and political upheavals of the 1960s.
- The impact of the 1960s on family dynamics
- The complexities of intergenerational relationships
- The theme of control and the limitations of parental authority
- The exploration of Jewish identity in the American context
- The role of societal expectations and pressures in shaping individual choices
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter explores different interpretations of American Pastoral, highlighting the novel's multifaceted nature and its exploration of family dynamics against the backdrop of the 1960s.
- Lou Levov: This chapter delves into the character of Lou Levov, portraying him as a self-made man with a strong work ethic and traditional values. It examines his complex relationship with his sons and the way his controlling nature affects their lives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in the text include: American Pastoral, Philip Roth, family dynamics, intergenerational relationships, the 1960s, control, parental authority, Jewish identity, American identity, societal expectations, and the impact of history on personal lives.
- Quote paper
- Anke Balduf (Author), 2000, The Sequence of Generations in Philip Roth's American Pastoral, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/11315
