A paper which compares and discusses the 3 works of Philip Roth Essay

A paper which compares and discusses the 3 works of Philip Roth Goodbye, Columbus Defender of the Faith and Eli, the Fanatic - Essay Example This is due to his fondness to his religion and his indifferent behavior towards the materialistic world. His character reveals a different sense of humor which is appreciated by all. I disliked the character of Brenda Patimkin because she is exactly the opposite of what Neil Klugman is. Her character portrays a sense of love towards the materialistic world. The character of Brenda is also portrayed as of a negative one by Philip Roth. This is because in the latter part of the story she decides to end the relationship with Neil Klugman due to their class differences. Another famous work by Philip Roth is the "Defender of the Faith". This story like the other works by Philip Roth also tells about religion and faith. It revolves around Sergeant Marx who fights in the World War II. After coming back from the war the Sergeant gets deeply involved in the Jewish religion. The Sergeant while serving in the army lost his faith in the religion and started doing things which were prohibited in his religion (like he started eating kosher). The story deals with the transformation of Marx from a man of principles and faith to a different man who forgets his religion and views after he joins the army. But soon after he re transforms to the real self when he realizes the need and the change. He analyzes three other Jewish trainees who held their religion and faith to a higher position then serving in the army. In this story I admire the character of Sergeant Marx. This is because of the firm belief of Marx in his principles. He is portrayed as a strong man who has gone through a lot of changes but who still has a firm belief in his religion and faith. The advantages taken by the trainees due to the kindness shown to them by Marx are a thing which I dislike in the story. The story Eli, the Fanatic tells us about the incidents and events occurred after a small ultra-Orthodox Yeshiva entered into a Jewish middle-class society in America. Philip Roth described the feelings of the members of the Jewish community. They were outraged and anxious as they worked hard to maintain peace in the community. He described their anxiety to protect their well-balanced community. Eli was a Jewish lawyer and people appealed him to restrict the outsiders from entering in their grounds. I like the way Roth explains the Jewish unawareness and crudeness of the modern culture and derides their suspicion. The story is distinct in a way it exemplifies the complexity of discussion about the educational standard of the Jewish society in a broken Jewish race. It clearly shows the difference of two different standards of Jewish community. One part of the community is well-educated and realistic, whereas the other part consists of superstitious and backward people. They rely on t he past and are not ready to forget their old traditions and values which is quiet important for their progress at present These three stories are based on the same themes but have different stories and different views. Goodbye Columbus deals with the issue of socio economic differences and classes. It deals with the love of people for the materialistic world that is a common sight in the world. While in the Defender of the Faith the writer tells about the transformation of a man. It tells about people like Grossbart who take advantage of kind people like Marx. In the third

American Community Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

American Community - Essay Example Indeed, and as the case of example of the Asian American immigrants establishes, not only are groups divided between themselves but, within themselves. Affirmative action, primarily targeting the African American community, is alternately viewed as a means of leveling the playing ground and as a discriminatory practice. Insofar as its proponents are concerned, affirmative action effectively ensures that colleges and universities, among other institutions, maintain a quota for African American candidates/students. In this way, African Americans are assured a place in institutions which would have otherwise been closed to them, largely because of their socio-economic circumstances and, as such given an invaluable opportunity for mobility. It is important to note here that proponents regard affirmative action as society's responsibility towards the African American community and, the least of that which is owed them. Opponents, on the other hand, inclusive amongst which are some members of the African American community, maintain that affirmative action is inherently discriminatory and racist. ... rican American community does suffer from a more restricted range of opportunities than does the majority and in light of the fact that latent racism may further constrain these opportunities, affirmative action is necessary. Indeed, rather than consider it a negative remark on the abilities of African Americans, it could be more properly understood as a policy predicated on a lack of faith in society's own ability to judge African Americans on their own merit, rather than their skin color. Further fortifying the importance of affirmative action is the status of African Americans on all of the socio-economic indicators versus that of a comparatively recent immigrant group, the Asians. In direct comparison to the African American's close to four centuries of history in the United States, the Asian American's history in the United States is short, with the first immigration wave dating to the mid-nineteenth century. This first influx of Asian immigrants was almost wholly comprised of Chinese manual laborers. Before this ethnic population could swell in numbers, Chinese immigration exclusionary measures were instigated in 1882, effectively halting Chinese immigration while encouraging Japanese Asian immigration. Eventually, however, discriminatory policies, halted Asian immigration to America from the 1920s to the 1960s. Anti-Asian sentiments, as which instigated the implementation of discriminatory and exclusionary immigration policies, reached its peak during World War II. Japan's alliance with Nazi Germany and most especially its attack on Pearl Harbor, led to widespread violence against Asian Americans. Indeed, following the said attack, Japanese Americans were interned in camps, unthinkingly classified as enemies despite the fact that many had been born in