An American Dream (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Norman Mailer
- First Published: 1965
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Symbolism
- Time of Work: 1962
- Setting: New York City
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire
- Subjects: 1960’s, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Power, personal or social, Love or romance, Sex or sexuality, Murder or homicide, New York City, Machismo
- Locales: New York, NY
Characters Discussed
Stephen Richard Rojack, the narrator and protagonist, a war hero, former congressman, professor of existential psychology, television personality, and murderer. On a late-night visit to his estranged wife, Deborah, Rojack strangles her after enduring her taunts. She challenges his manhood, and Rojack feels particularly vulnerable because he has had doubts about his character. Although he has achieved some notoriety, he has not lived up to his own heroic image of himself. He weathers the police interrogation well, even though the police suspect him of...
[The entire page is 934 words long]
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