Culture and identity : the academic setting in Philip Roth's The Human Stain and Francine Prose's Blue angel
- UNCW Author/Contributor (non-UNCW co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Michelle Britt (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW )
- Web Site: http://library.uncw.edu/
Abstract: The academic novel is a genre that continues to expand in both scholarship and
critical review. The Human Stain by Philip Roth and Blue Angel by Francine Prose are
examples of the evolution of this genre. Both novels are set on Northern New England
college campuses and look at the absurdities and hypocrisies present in contemporary
American society.
In the introduction to this study, I look at the history and background of the
academic novel and investigate some of the literary characteristics associated with the
genre. I go on to give brief background information on novelists Philip Roth and
Francine Prose and conclude with a synopsis of The Human Stain and Blue Angel.
The first chapter explores some of the comments and observations about modern
American culture articulated by each of these novels. I give particular attention to the
issues of sex and sexuality, collegiality, family, racism, feminism, and political
correctness. I view each issue in terms of how it affects various characters and discuss
the role of the academic setting.
In the second chapter I examine identity and the role of the college campus in
identity construction. I specifically focus on Roth’s characters Coleman Silk, a professor
of Classics and his lover Faunia Farley, a college janitor and on Prose’s character Ted
Swenson, a professor of fiction writing. In each chapter I draw conclusions as well as
form personal opinions resulting from research I have done for this study. I conclude with my thoughts on where the genre of the academic novel is headed
and whether I believe that these two academic novels by Roth and Prose are effective
vehicles to provide commentary on contemporary American society.
Culture and identity : the academic setting in Philip Roth's The Human Stain and Francine Prose's Blue angel
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Created on 1/1/2009
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- A Thesis Submitted to the University of North Carolina Wilmington in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts
- Language: English
- Date: 2009
- Keywords
- Prose Francine 1947-Blue angel--Criticism and interpretation, Roth Philip Human stain--Criticism and interpretation
- Subjects
- Roth, Philip. Human stain -- Criticism and interpretation
- Prose, Francine, 1947- Blue angel -- Criticism and interpretation