Double Marginalized-A Study Of Portnoy's Mental Crisis

In the contemporary American literary world, Philip Roth definitely can be considered as a non-conformist. His unconventional writing style makes him a special existence in American literature. Instead of being confined to his Jewish identity, Roth prefers to be known as a writer who focuses on the common problems of all humanity. Thus,most of his works are involved with themes as aging and mortality; sickness and suffering; desires and morals; complex relationships with parents as well as the whole society. But it doesn't mean that Roth's Jewish identity has not at all influenced his creation. Indeed, identity problem is perhaps the most important topic Roth deals with in his novels. But what distinguishes him from other ethnic writers is the fact that he concentrates on the individual will of the Jewish people rather than seeing them as a group. Thus,regardless of race,what Roth's characters suffer from may also be the problems of the whole humankind.Among Roth's prolific works, Portnoy's Complaint can be seen as an experimental work for Roth to find his own writing style. Just as the protagonist Portnoy determines to break away with his Jewish past, Roth also manages to get rid of the so-called "good taste"and step up to a whole new level of his literary career. In this sense, Portnoy's Complaint is of great significance and serves as a connection between his works in the past and those in the future. In this novel,Portnoy seems like a bomb that is likely to explode at any time.The endless usages of exclamation marks, block caps and italics throughout the novel also symbolize his chaotic mentality. Written in the form of a monologue, Portnoy's Complaint recollects what Portnoy has experienced in his childhood and how those memories still influence him at present. His controlling mother as well as his impotent father, his discontent with Judaism as well as his desire to become a true American, his masturbation and his endless sexual involvement with gentile girls, all of which give rise to his overwhelming anxiety and later leads to his mental breakdown.Based on what has been discussed above, this thesis is divided into six parts,including an introduction as well as a conclusion. The introduction contains an overview of Philip Roth and his Portnoy's Complaint. What's more, literature review is also given in terms of this novel domestically and internationally.The first chapter focuses on the causes of Portnoy's great anxiety. The influence from his family is considered as the most important factor. What's more, he is constantly stuck somewhere between his Jewish community and the white-dominant society. All of these give rise to his overwhelming anxiety.Combining with Horney's perspectives of anxiety, chapter two makes a detailed analysis of Portnoy's anxiety problems concerning four aspects. That is, his attitudes towards giving and getting affections; his inner insecurity; aggression and sexuality.Through deep analysis, it can be concluded that Portnoy's anxiety is actually his inner insecurity. It urges him to ask for more love from others but prevents him from offering the same love and making promises to them. Also because of his anxiety, he devotes himself to a radical rebellion against the Jewish traditions, only to find that it has become more and more intense.Certainly, Portnoy is just a representative figure in the Jewish community. Thus,chapter three intends to choose several other American Jews in this novel to make a comparison with Portnoy. Suffering from the same anxiety, they all fail to speak their minds and to stand up against the authority. In this sense,Portnoy is doomed to fight this battle on his own.Besides Portnoy's Jewishness, it is claimed that he is much of a literary figure with great social significance. He, to some extent, speaks for the age of the 1960s in America.Thus, social conditions in different periods may lead Portnoy to different destinies. Chapter four mainly concentrates on this perspective. Although anxiety problem seems to exist in every period, people living in different social conditions may react variously.Finally,based on the analysis of Portnoy's anxiety,the conclusion part highlights the main points in the above chapters and points out the great social significance manifested in Roth's works. In Portnoy's Complaint, Roth makes a vivid description of Portnoy's mentality,through which he shows us the dilemma American Jews would encounter during the process of integrating into the American society. Being stuck between the Jewish traditions and mainstream culture, it's definitely confusing for Portnoy to figure out his identity. What is worth noticing is that Portnoy's anxiety is not exclusive to the Jewish people. It also reflects the mental crisis of the whole mankind in the contemporary society,which makes this novel more significant.