Philip Roth's "The Human Stain"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Philip Roth, throughout his work, "The Human Stain", questions how a country that was supposedly founded on equality, hope and humanity could have possibly let itself evolve into such an unequal, hopeless and inhumane land. The paper then points out that the concept of "racial passing" is a primary theme in this book. Additionally, the paper analyzes the book's theme of prejudice and how that theme demonstrates how prejudice prevents minorities from transcending their problematic conditions while being blamed for virtually every ill that society suffers. Lastly, the paper compares the themes expressed by Roth in "The Human Stain" to similar themes expressed by Lorraine Hansberry in her work, "A Raisin in the Sun" and in Arthur Miller's work "Death of A Salesman".

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Synopsis
Major Themes
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Crucially, however, Walter begins leaving the house every morning without going to work. Instead, he drives south to Gary, Indiana; he drives north to Wisconsin; he walks around his own neighborhood newly conscious of the situations of his neighbors; and he ends up each day at a bar. Most shocking to Mama, however, is Walter's lack of response to his wife Ruth's threat to have an abortion; it was bad enough that Mama's husband was nearly destroyed by the death of his child, but worse, Walter has given up hope not only for himself but for his progeny."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cullen, Jim, The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation Oxford University Press, 2003
• Miller, Arthur, Death of A Salesman, Penguin Books, 1998
• Roth, Philip. The Human Stain. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
• Hansberry, Lorraine, A Raisin in the Sun, Signet, 1988

More papers on Philip Roth's "The Human Stain":

• Book Review # 119635 : "Racial Passing in Philip Roth's "The Human Stain"
• Analytical Essay # 63172 : "Feminism and The Human Stain"
• Analytical Essay # 71302 : "The Human Stain"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: