'The Pawnbroker'

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses Edward Lewis Wallant's 1961 novel "The Pawnbroker". The paper focuses specifically on the concept of the body in the novel from a variety of points of view, taking into account the backdrop of Nazerman's horrible experiences in the concentration camps and his struggle to return to a somewhat normal life after the demons of the past had haunted him so badly. To begin, the paper discusses the bodies that populated the concentration camp of Nazerman's early life and then haunted his dreams later in life.

Contents:
Abstract
Bodies in the Concentration Camps
Bodies as a Commodity on the Streets of the Bronx
The Aging Body of Nazerman
Nazerman's Body as an Island
Nazerman's Body of Work Experience
The Connection of Nazerman's Body and Soul
Nazerman Weeps Over the Body of Jesus
Closing Thoughts

From the Paper:

"Referring back to the previous discussion of Nazerman's exercise of conscience in fighting the crime that has become so prevalent in the neighborhood of his Bronx business, this is indicative of his realization of his own mortality as he understands that his body is aging along with his soul. Through his experiences of seeing life cheapened and thrown away, he has developed a strong appreciation for the value of the human life, and it is arguable that he has developed somewhat of an appreciation for the value of his own life. Through the bleak outlook of the pawnshop in the Bronx, Nazerman begins to attempt to break free from the bonds of his physical environment and the terrible things in it to begin anew, as he attempted to do when coming to the Bronx in the first place. In order to do so, however, there was a great deal of territory to conquer in order for that to happen, such as the exploration and conquest of the island that Nazerman has become from his life experiences."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hoyt, Charles Alva, ed. Minor American Novelists. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1970.
• Wallant, Edward Lewis. The Pawnbroker. New York: Harcourt & Brace, 1961.

More papers on 'The Pawnbroker':

• Analytical Essay # 29442 : "Edward Lewis Wallant's "The Pawnbroker"
• Essay # 29457 : "Pawnbroker Industry"
• Research Proposal # 106719 : "Pawnbroker Training"

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