History Re-imagined And Identity Explored:A New Historicist Study Of The Plot Against America

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies,2023Utilizing the framework of New Historicism,this thesis analyzes the historical re-imagination and identity exploration in Philip Roth’s novel The Plot Against America.In the latter period of his writing career,Philip Roth realizes the complexity of Jewish identity in America.He constructs a different historical understanding and American Jewish identity in this anti-historical novel,expressing his rethinking of Jewish identity and anxiety about the internal political crisis in America.Chapter One briefly introduces Philip Roth’ s life,achievements,and the novel’s main plot.It also reviews the current research on The Plot Against America at home and abroad,explains the research questions and significance of this study,and pinpoints the basic principles of New Historicism.Finally,the chapter outlines the structure of the paper.Chapter Two,which is based on the theory of the textuality of history,analyzes how the grand official history is deconstructed and questioned to discover the micro-history truth.By parodying the actual historical figure Lindbergh and the historical event of WWII,the intertextuality of the text is shown,blurring the narrative boundary between fictional discourse and historical discourse,making history a form of interpretation and narration.By focusing on the different experiences of the Herman family in the historical crisis and giving voice to the marginalized,Roth challenges the hegemonic discourse of grand history and clarifies the complexity and diversity of the micro-history narrative that mainstream narratives ignore.The use of the focalization of the child Roth helps to emphasize the details overlooked in significant political and historical events to express the anxiety of children in the American democratic crisis through the symbolic image of stamps,and reinforces the argument that history is composed of minor narratives.Chapter Three analyzes the two-way social and political influences of The Plot Against America and the American society based on the theory of the historicity of the text.Roth realistically reflects the anti-Semitism that has long existed in American society through the portrayal of unequal micro-family space and macro-social space and a series of anti-Jewish policies.By describing the anxiety and survival crisis of Jewish families under the Lindbergh government,The Plot Against America also expresses Roth’s return to Jewish identity and reflection on the internal crisis of American society in the post-9/11 era.This chapter also highlights the connection between The Plot Against America and contemporary American politics,with the political crisis depicted in the novel echoing the American first policy implemented by the Trump administration in recent years,thus demonstrating the shaping and impact of the novel on history.Chapter Four explores the reasons for Philip Roth’s return to history in The Plot Against America from the perspective of cultural analysis.It seeks to thoroughly discuss Roth’s historical obsession and the relationship between history and identity.On the one hand,Roth’s upbringing,writing experiences,and the ethos of his time have influenced his perception of the writing of Jewish national identity;on the other hand,the generation of Jewish identity cannot be separated from the re-writing of history.Roth’s search for identity is an intrinsic motivation for historical writing,and historical writing is also essential proof of Roth’s search for identity.Chapter Five summarizes the major findings of the previous analysis.The study shows that history re-imagination and identity exploration are inseparably related in this novel.Roth re-imagines history and explores identity through three distinctive narrative strategies,and this novel inspires readers to think about the intern crisis of racism and democracy in American society.