On The Theme Of Death In Philip Roth's Patrimony

Death, as the termination of all life, maintains the eternal topic throughout the literature history. The issue of death is also a frequenter in Roth's works, which has already been studied in the Roth Study. However, up to present, there is no domestic integrated relevant research. This thesis selects Roth's later three works, that is, Patrimony:A True Story, The Dying Animal and Everyman, which can embody his concept of death, as a whole to research, in an attempt to explore the theme of death by analyzing their plots, characters, psychology and others on the basis of the detailed textual interpretation. These three works share the same characteristics:they start on aging, disease or death, run to the end. In addition, they are all about the protagonists and other characters'confusion and struggle, dream-chasing and disillusionment, woven of love and fear, hope and despair. Besides, Patrimony:A True Story comes from Roth's true experience with his dying father, which is undoubtedly important implication for understanding the purpose of Roth's creation and his viewpoints of death.Through research, it is discovered that there is overlap between most of Roth's death opinions and those of the Existentialist Sartre's. With a prerequisite of inevitability, universality, accidence of death, they both investigate what to do in face of death. Such philosophical thoughts upon death awaken people to connect death with the life plan and subjectivity to overcome the fear of death, thereby recognizing the true self together with the transcendence of death by means of love or art, granting the limited life unlimited value and significance.This thesis consists of five parts:The first chapter provides a brief introduction to American Jewish literature, Philip Roth's life and his writing career as well as the Roth Study at home and abroad. The key point of this part is the introduction and critical review of the three works researched.The second chapter outlines Roth's viewpoints on the features of death demonstrated in the texts:inevitability, cruelty and accidence. The reason why these features are repeatedly manifested in Roth's works is that Roth believes the understanding of life must be based on the clear understanding of death.Chapter Three illustrates the effects on the heroes in the three works. This part firstly analyzes the protagonists of The Dying Animal and Everyman under the threat of death, pointing out that the fear of death is the biggest fear of human being, while death causes humiliation to the old Roth, which causes him a sense of loss in pride. But in the meantime, death also brings incentives for them to reflect on themselves and to make a difference, which leads the protagonists in The Dying Animal and Everyman find back their lost true self.The fourth chapter finds out Roth's exploration of coping with death while constructing the meaning of life in the three works. In The Dying Animal and Everyman, the protagonists attempt to resist death by satisfying their lust, however, they discover that their life fall into disarray. They lose more than before, but death is still ferocious. In contrast, the pure tolerant and understanding affection aids the old Roth and that nameless protagonist in Everyman to mend the relationship, overcome the fear of death, regaining confidence and serenity. What's more, Roth believes that life can be extended by the art in another form, which is taken by the heroine in The Dying Animal to hold her beauty and dignity before her death. In this sense, love and the art are ways of transcending death for the human being.Chapter Five is a conclusion of the research. Without knowing death, life can not be understood. Roth enlightens people who are indulging in surface prosperity to batter their negligence by correct awareness of death. He calls up people to give meaning to life by free choice and subjective initiative, cherishing love and living heartedly in dignity.