Nathan Zuckerman
Encyclopedia
Nathan Zuckerman is a fictional character who appears as the narrator or protagonist of (and often functions as an alter ego
in) many of Philip Roth
's works of fiction.
(1974), where he is the product of another fictional Roth creation, the writer Peter Tarnopol (making Zuckerman, in his original form, an "alter-alter-ego"). In later books Zuckerman is given a less indentured form of existence, starting with the 1979 novel The Ghost Writer
, where he is the story's protagonist, a writing apprentice on a pilgrimage to cull the wisdom of the reclusive author E. I. Lonoff. In Zuckerman Unbound
(1981) he is an established novelist and must deal with the fall-out from his ribald comedic novel Carnovsky. Though wildly successful, the novel has brought to Zuckerman unwanted attention both from readers and his family.
) signaled Roth's burgeoning interest in the relationship between an author and his work. Such meta-fictional concerns would be mined more deeply in Roth's series of 1980s novels, most radically in The Counterlife
and Operation Shylock
. By the mid-1990s, though, Roth would tamp down on the self-referentiality, and reintroduce Zuckerman as witness and narrator in a trilogy of historical novels: American Pastoral
(1997), I Married a Communist
(1998), and The Human Stain
(2000). Zuckerman also makes an appearance in Salman Rushdie's 1999 novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet
, where in an alternate universe it is the literary alter-egos (and their novels) that are real.
(in the 1984 television adaptation of The Ghost Writer
) and Gary Sinise
(in the 2003 film adaptation of The Human Stain
).
Philip Roth's novel Exit Ghost
is the ninth in the Zuckerman series; the author says it will be his last Zuckerman novel. The book, published in October 2007, focuses on Zuckerman as an older man, returning to New York City
after an extended period of seclusion in the Berkshires.
Alter ego
An alter ego is a second self, which is believe to be distinct from a person's normal or original personality. The term was coined in the early nineteenth century when dissociative identity disorder was first described by psychologists...
in) many of Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
's works of fiction.
Character
Zuckerman makes his first appearance in the novel My Life As a ManMy Life As a Man
My Life As a Man is American writer Philip Roth's seventh novel.-Summary:The work is split into two sections: the first section, "Useful Fictions," consisting of two short stories about a character named Nathan Zuckerman , and the second section,...
(1974), where he is the product of another fictional Roth creation, the writer Peter Tarnopol (making Zuckerman, in his original form, an "alter-alter-ego"). In later books Zuckerman is given a less indentured form of existence, starting with the 1979 novel The Ghost Writer
The Ghost Writer
The Ghost Writer is the first novel by Philip Roth to be narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, one of Roth's alter egos, and constitutes the first book in his Zuckerman Bound trilogy. The novel touches on themes common to many Roth works, including identity, the responsibilities of authors to their...
, where he is the story's protagonist, a writing apprentice on a pilgrimage to cull the wisdom of the reclusive author E. I. Lonoff. In Zuckerman Unbound
Zuckerman Unbound
-Nathan Zuckerman:The novel resumes the story of Roth's fictional alter ego Nathan Zuckerman that was inaugurated by Roth's previous novel The Ghost Writer.-Themes:...
(1981) he is an established novelist and must deal with the fall-out from his ribald comedic novel Carnovsky. Though wildly successful, the novel has brought to Zuckerman unwanted attention both from readers and his family.
Analysis
The obvious parallels to Roth's own life as a novelist (with the novel Carnovsky a stand-in for Portnoy's ComplaintPortnoy's Complaint
Portnoy's Complaint is the American novel that turned its author Philip Roth into a major celebrity, sparking a storm of controversy over its explicit and candid treatment of sexuality, including detailed depictions of masturbation using various props including a piece of liver...
) signaled Roth's burgeoning interest in the relationship between an author and his work. Such meta-fictional concerns would be mined more deeply in Roth's series of 1980s novels, most radically in The Counterlife
The Counterlife
The Counterlife is a novel by the American author Philip Roth. It is the fourth full novel to feature the fictional novelist Nathan Zuckerman. When The Counterlife was published, Zuckerman had most recently appeared in a novella called The Prague Orgy, the epilogue to the omnibus volume Zuckerman...
and Operation Shylock
Operation Shylock
Operation Shylock: A Confession is novelist Philip Roth's 19th book and was published in 1993.-Summary:The novel follows narrator "Philip Roth" on a journey to Israel, where he attends the trial of accused war criminal John Demjanjuk and becomes involved in an intelligence mission—the "Operation...
. By the mid-1990s, though, Roth would tamp down on the self-referentiality, and reintroduce Zuckerman as witness and narrator in a trilogy of historical novels: American Pastoral
American Pastoral
American Pastoral is a Philip Roth novel concerning Seymour "Swede" Levov, a Jewish-American businessman and former high school athlete from Newark, New Jersey. Levov's happy and conventional upper middle class life is ruined by the domestic social and political turmoil of the 1960s, which in the...
(1997), I Married a Communist
I Married a Communist
I Married a Communist is a Philip Roth novel concerning the rise and fall of Ira Ringold, known as "Iron Rinn." The story is narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, and is one of a trio of Zuckerman novels Roth wrote in the 1990s depicting the postwar history of Newark, New Jersey and its residents.Ira and...
(1998), and The Human Stain
The Human Stain
The Human Stain is a novel by Philip Roth. It is set in late 1990s rural New England. Its first person narrator is 65-year-old author Nathan Zuckerman, a character in previous Roth novels, including American Pastoral and I Married a Communist ; these two books form a loose trilogy with The Human...
(2000). Zuckerman also makes an appearance in Salman Rushdie's 1999 novel The Ground Beneath Her Feet
The Ground Beneath Her Feet
The Ground Beneath Her Feet is the sixth novel written by Salman Rushdie. Published in 2000, it is a variation on the Orpheus/Eurydice myth with rock music replacing Orpheus' lyre...
, where in an alternate universe it is the literary alter-egos (and their novels) that are real.
Portrayals
Actors who have portrayed Nathan Zuckerman include Mark Linn-BakerMark Linn-Baker
Mark Linn-Baker is an American actor and director famous for his role as Larry Appleton on the television sitcom Perfect Strangers.-Early life and career:...
(in the 1984 television adaptation of The Ghost Writer
The Ghost Writer
The Ghost Writer is the first novel by Philip Roth to be narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, one of Roth's alter egos, and constitutes the first book in his Zuckerman Bound trilogy. The novel touches on themes common to many Roth works, including identity, the responsibilities of authors to their...
) and Gary Sinise
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise is an American actor, film director and musician. During his career, Sinise has won various awards including an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award. In 1992, Sinise directed, and played the role of George Milton in the successful film adaptation of...
(in the 2003 film adaptation of The Human Stain
The Human Stain (film)
The Human Stain is a 2003 American romantic thriller film directed by Robert Benton. The screenplay by Nicholas Meyer is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Philip Roth...
).
Philip Roth's novel Exit Ghost
Exit Ghost
Exit Ghost is a 2007 novel by Philip Roth. It is the ninth, and Roth says his last, novel featuring Nathan Zuckerman.-Plot summary:The plot centers on Zuckerman's return home to New York after eleven years in New England. The purpose of Zuckerman's journey, which he takes the week before the 2004 U.S...
is the ninth in the Zuckerman series; the author says it will be his last Zuckerman novel. The book, published in October 2007, focuses on Zuckerman as an older man, returning to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after an extended period of seclusion in the Berkshires.
External resources
- Salon.comSalon.comSalon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
: Philip Roth: The Zuckerman books