A Study Of Selves In Philip Roth's Patrimony

“Self” which has been the narrative center of the autobiography is the narrative center of Philip Roth?s Patrimony.Of the few studies of Patrimony,most focus on the father-son relationship and Jewish heritage in it for they consider it as a story.Some explore the narrative techniques,and fact and fiction in it even if they take it as an autobiography.“Self”,the narrative center in it,has not received enough attention.This thesis,grounded in autobiographical theories,concentrates on “self”,the fundamental issue of autobiography.It examines the three versions of selves which are embodied in different life stages of Philip Roth,the son,and Herman Roth,the father—autonomous selves,selves in illnesses,and selves in relations.It points out that before their illnesses,both the father and the son behave in their conflicting autonomous selves that are separately shaped in the traditional Jewish culture and the American culture which cherishes individualism and self-reliance.Yet,when the father and the son fall ill one after another,their autonomous selves are disrupted.Their illnesses make them realize that they live in relation to the others,especially the significant others.Since then,the relationality of the self plays a relatively more important role in Philip and Herman.They change their views about the other and themselves.Correspondingly their new selves are constructed in relations.The present author argues that Philip Roth thinks highly of the relational self in self-development.For him,the relational self is more worth cherishing,for the self in relation is much more mature and shows much more care for the others,and a harmonious relation can be established.Just because Philip has a strong awareness of this,he clearly knows how valuable is his father?s patrimony,the spiritual heritage,in the shape of his self,and embraces it.