The Heroic Ideal in Philip Roth's "Indignation" (2008) and "Nemesis" (2010)

Bachelor Thesis , 2020 , 41 Pages , Grade: 2,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Particularly "Nemesis" and "Indignation" have a strong relation to one another due to several factors such as the usage of time, place, setting, Fear, narration, and character design. In the thesis at hand, these two novels will be further investigated to demonstrate how Roth succeeds in narrative experimentation as much as in creating a powerful heroic ideal informed by an existential vision.

Thus, this work is going to illustrate that Roth is trying to create a certain heroic ideal that is modeled on ancient heroic paragons and mediates it through an existential vision. Moreover, Roth presents a novel conception of heroism that is likely to appeal to youth across generations and especially to America in the 1950s. With the aid of his heroic ideal, Roth raises general questions about masculinity in modern societies. With the aid of this literary device, Roth is able to strengthen the heroic ideal within these novels. Likewise, supportive is his usage of historical context. Roth generally situates his works along two thematic themes: historical times-spaces and the interconnections of culture.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 1.1 Methodological approach
• 1.2 Relevance of this investigation
• 2. The concept of masculinity within society
• 2.1 Development of the term hero
• 2.2 Different hero concepts in Roth's literature
• 3. Analysis of Indignation and the heroic ideal it mediates
• 3.1 Analysis of the narrative structure and its support of the heroic ideal
• 3.2 The heroic Ideal in Indignation
• 3.3 Allusions to Roman mythology and heroically figures
• 4. Analysis of Nemesis and the heroic ideal it mediates
• 4.1 Analysis of the narrative structure and its support of the heroic ideal
• 4.2 The heroic ideal in Nemesis
• 4.3 Similarities to the Greek tragic hero Oedipus and allusions to Greek mythology
• 5. Similarities in the heroic Ideal in Indignation and Nemesis
• 6. Roth's underlying criticism within these two novels
• 7. Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This work aims to demonstrate how Philip Roth, in his novels Indignation and Nemesis, utilizes the heroic ideal to explore the complexities of masculinity in modern society. Through a detailed analysis of these two novels, the study examines how Roth uses narrative structures, character development, and allusions to ancient mythology to create a unique vision of heroism informed by an existential perspective.

• The evolving concept of the hero in modern society
• The portrayal of masculinity in Roth's later works
• The influence of historical context on the heroic ideal
• The role of fear and mortality in shaping masculinity
• Roth's critical perspective on societal expectations of men

Chapter Summaries

This section will provide summaries of the main themes, arguments, and narrative elements of each chapter, focusing on how Roth utilizes the heroic ideal to explore the complexities of masculinity. However, summaries of the conclusion, final chapter, and any sections containing major revelations or spoilers will be excluded.

• **Chapter 1: Introduction** This chapter provides an overview of the thesis, introducing the main objectives and the specific focus on analyzing Roth’s novels, *Indignation* and *Nemesis*, through the lens of the heroic ideal. It also outlines the methodological approach and the significance of this investigation in the broader context of gender studies and modern society.
• **Chapter 2: The Concept of Masculinity within Society** This chapter explores the evolution of the term "hero" throughout history, focusing on how the concept has changed and adapted within different cultures and time periods. It will examine the various subtypes of the hero and their characteristics, laying the foundation for understanding the heroic behavior of Roth's protagonists.
• **Chapter 3: Analysis of Indignation and the heroic ideal it mediates** This chapter examines the narrative structure and stylistic features of *Indignation*, demonstrating how the novel supports the message of the heroic ideal. It then delves into a detailed investigation of the protagonist, Marcus Messner, and the plot itself, analyzing how the heroic image is created. The chapter concludes by exploring the novel's allusions to Roman hero mythology and its connection to ancient paragons.
• **Chapter 4: Analysis of Nemesis and the heroic ideal it mediates** This chapter follows the same approach used in the analysis of *Indignation*, examining the narrative structure, stylistic features, and protagonist of *Nemesis*. It then explores the novel's similarities to the Greek tragic hero Oedipus and its allusions to Attic tragedy, highlighting the influence of classical literature on Roth's vision of heroism.
• **Chapter 5: Similarities in the Heroic Ideal in Indignation and Nemesis** This chapter compares and contrasts the heroic ideals presented in *Indignation* and *Nemesis*, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two novels. It explores how Roth uses a consistent approach to create a unique vision of heroism that reflects the challenges and complexities of modern masculinity.
• **Chapter 6: Roth’s Underlying Criticism within these Two Novels** This chapter analyzes Roth’s underlying criticism within *Indignation* and *Nemesis*, exploring his perspective on the societal expectations placed upon men and the challenges they face in navigating those expectations. This chapter will focus on Roth’s social commentary and how he uses the heroic ideal to expose the limitations and contradictions of traditional masculinity in contemporary society.

Keywords

This work focuses on the themes of heroism, masculinity, existentialism, historical context, and societal expectations. It explores the works of Philip Roth, particularly his novels *Indignation* and *Nemesis*, analyzing the narrative structures, character development, and allusions to ancient mythology that inform his unique vision of heroism.

• College: University of Wuppertal
• Grade: 2,0
• Author: Tobias Seller (Author)
• Publication Year: 2020
• Pages: 41
• Catalog Number: V1273914
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346719089
• ISBN (Book): 9783346719096
• Language: English
• Tags: Roth, Philip, Literatur, Heroic, Ideal, Masculine, Image, Anglistik, Analysis, Indignation, Nemesis, Greek, Ancient, Similarities