Л С 1 A U N I V L R S I T A T I S L O D Z I Ł N G l S K O L I A L I T T E R A R I A 29, 1990
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IHE S M A L L E R THE G A P THE G R E A T E R THE 0 1 S T A N C E : ÎHE IMAG E OF THE W R I T E R IN THE N O V E L S OF P H I L I P R O T H
The t h e m e s ot P h i l i p R o t h ' s n o v e l s h a v e a l w a y s e v o l v e d with-in a c l e a r l y r e c o g n i z a b l e a s s u m p t i o n t ha t c u l t u r e a n d f a m i l y l i f e p u t o f t e n u n b e a r a b l e p r e s s u r e s u p o n s e n s i t i v e i n d i v i d u a l s w h o, n o t to l o s e t h ei r s a n i t y , r e s o r t to b i z a r r e a t t i t u d e s a n d p r a c t i c e s . W i t h th e p u b l i c a t i o n of "M y L i f e as a M a n " ( 1 9 7 4 ) , a n d th e so c a l l e d Z u c k e r m a n t r i l og y , w h i c h i n c l u d e s " T h e G h o s t W r i t e r " ( 1 9 7 9 ) , " Z u c k e r m a n U n b o u n d " ( 1 9 8 1 ) , " T h e A n a t o m y L e s -so n" p l u s a s h o r t n o v e l l a “ The P r a g u e O r g y " (I98ï>)., R o t h , w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g t his b a e i c p r e m i s e , n a r r o w s it d o w n to wh at it m e a n s to be a w r i t e r l i v i n g in t o d a y ’s U n i t e d S t a t e s . A f t e r WW II n o v e l s a b o u t w r i t e r s h a v e Ь в с о т е m o r e p o p u l a r a n d f r e q u e n t in th e U n i t e d S t a t e s t h a n e v e r b e f o r e . N a b o k o v , B e l l o w , M a i l e r , M a l a m u d , S t y r o n , U p d i k e , H e l l e r , R o t h , B a r t h , O o c t o r o w , to m e n t i o n o n l y s o m e of t he b e s t - k n o w n n a m e s , h a v e w r i t t e n i m p o r t a n t a n d m e m o r a b l e n o v e l s a b o u t l i v e s of w r i t e r s . It s e e m s ttiat the i m a g e of the w r i t e r h a s b e c o m e an a l m o s t obli-g a t o r y t h e m e in A m e r i c a n l i t e r a t u r e to d a y , a k i n d of l i t e r a r y m y t h , j u s t as th e l i f e of the f r o n t i e r s m a n w a s a m y t h in th e I 9 th c e n t u r y , or as th e L o s t G e n e r a t i o n w r i t e r s ' g o i n g to E u r o -pe, to e s c a p e A m e r i c a ' s p h i l i s t i n i s m , w a s in th e 19 20 s . Se t a g a i n s t the r e c o g n i z a b l e b a c k g r o u n d of c o n t e m p o r a r y A m e -r i ca, t h is n e w m y t h , m a d e o u t of t h e w r i t e r s ’ o w n c a r e e r s , is, by its v e ry n a t u r e , p e r s o n a l , s e l f - c e n t e r e d , c o n f e s s i o n a l . It u s u a l l y c o n t a i n s an i m p l i c a t i o n t h at th e v e r a c i t y of w h a t is i n s i d e the n o v e l is c o n d i t i o n e d by, a n d a r e f l e c t i o n of th e n o -v e l ' s o u t s i d e , t h at is t h e a u t h o r .
Th e l i 'e an d c a r e e r of N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n , a J e w i s h A m e r i c a n n o v e l i s t , r e s e m b l e s R o t h ’s o w n b i o g r a p h y . B o t h w e r e b o r n in N e w a r k , N e w Je r s e y , in 1933 . Th e n o v e l s t h a t b o t h w r o t e a b o u t t h ei r J e w i s h b a c k g r o u n d s b r o u g h t t h e m f a m e as w e l l as th e a n -gr y r e s p o n s e s of t h os e w h o s e e t h e m as l a m p o o n e r s of t h e i r o w n f a m i l y a n d e t h n i c t r a d i t i o n s . T h e i r f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h sex is s i -m i l a r , too. Z u c k e r m a n ’s b e s t - s e l l i n g n o v e l " C a r n o v s k y " a n d R u t h ’s " P o r t n o y ’s C o m p l a i n t " a re f i l l e d w i t h e x p l i c i t a n d e x u l -ta nt c o n f e s s i o n s of a d o l e s c e n t s . B o t h b o o k s m a d e t h ei r a u t h o r s p o p u l a r , f i n a n c i a l l y s e c u r e a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l .
T h o s e w h o look for m e a n i n g f u l r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e t w e e n t h e fic-t i o n a l Z u c k e r m a n a n d fic-th e re al l if e R o t h in h i s l a t e s t n o v e l , " T he C o u n t e r l i f e " ( 1 9 8 7) , wi l l , h o w e v e r , b e b a f f l e d by t he fa ct th at the c h a r a c t e r wh o, in the pa s t , so c o n v i n c i n l y r e s e m b l e d R o t h, l e t s it be k n o w n t h a t t h e r e is f a l s i t y i-n the p r o c e s s of a w r i t e r ’s s e l f - d e p i c t i o n . Z u c k e r m a n , n o w in h i s m i d - f o r t i e s , s t il l r i c h a n d f a m o u s a f t e r th e s u c c e s s of " C a r n o v s k y " b u t " s i c k of o l d cris es , b o r e d w i t h o l d i s s u e s " w a n t i n g " t o b r e a k a wa y from* the w r i t e r ’s t e -d i o u s b u r -d e n of b e i n g h i s o w n c a u s e " p r o c l a i m s w a y s of u s i n g h i s l i t e r a r y v o c a t i o n as a m e a n s of r e n e w i n g h i s l i f e a n d art. He b e l i e v e s t hat b y " c o n j u r i n g up " l i f e ’s f i c t i o n a l a l t e r n a -t i ve s, d e -t e c -t i n g an d p l a y i n g w i -t h -the e x i s -t i n g s u b j e c -t i v e v e r -s i o n -s of r e a l i t y h e c a n w o r k ou t a c r e a t i v e a n d s a t i s f y i n g w a y of " c o u n t e r l i v i n g " . Hi s o w n l i f e as a w r i t e r is to h i m a n e m -b o d i m e n t of s u c h an a t t i t u d e : " b e i n g Z u c k e r m a n is o n e l o n g per-f o r m a n c e a n d the v e r y o p p o s i t e oper-f w h a t is t h o u g h t of as b e i n g o n e s e l f " . To d i s p e l a ny d o u b t a b o u t t h i s b e i n g a r e f l e c t i o n of the w r i t e r ’s o w n c o n f l i c t s a n d c o n t r a d i c t o r y p e r c e p t i o n s of h i m s e l f , Z u c k e r m a n d e c l a r e s w h a t m i g h t s e r v e as t he n o v e l ’s m o t t o : I c a n o n l y e x h i b i t m y s e l f in d i s g u i s e . All my a u d a c i t y d e r i v e s f r o m m a s k s 1 . 1 Ph. R o t h , The C o u n t e r l i f e , F a r r a r , b t r a u s a n d G i r o u x , N e w Y o r k 198 7, p. 275.
He is c o n v i n c e d th at th e p r o c e s s e s t h a t h e r e c o g n i z e s a n d u t i l i z e s in h i s art a r e u n k n o w i n g l y e m p l o y e d by e v e r y o n e : Th e t r e a c h e r o u s i m a g i n a t i o n is e v e r y b o d y ’s m a k e r - w e a r e all th e i n v e n t i o n of e a c h o t h e r , e v e r y b o d y a c o n j u r a t i o n c o n -j u r i n g u p e v e r y o n e e l s e . We a r e all e a c h o t h e r ’s a u t h o r s 2 . Z uc k err nan ’s a e s t h e t i c an d m o r a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n , th e r e p l a -c e m e n t of t he o l d " a r t i f i c i a l f i c t i o n of b e i n g m y s e l f ' with the " g e n u i n e , s a t i s f y i n g f a l s e n e s s of b e i n g s o m e b o d y e l s e " l e a d s to h i s r e j e c t i o n of th e t r a d i t i o n a l c o n c e p t of th e w r i t e r ’s c o n -s c i o u -s -self . He b e l i e v e -s he d o e s n o t h a v e , a n d is n o t w i l l i n g to " p e r p e t r a t e " u p o n h i m s e l f w h a t h e s e e s as t h e " j o k e of a s el f " . W h a t h e p o s s e s s e s i n s t e a d is "a v a r i e t y of i m p e r s o n a -t i o n s " , "a -t r o u p e of p l a y e r s " he c a n "c al l u p o n w h e n a s e l f is r e q u i r e d " . The w h o l e W e s t e r n i d e a of b e i n g d i v i d e d in o n e s e l f "a s the o p p o s i t e of m e n t a l h e a l t h " s e e m s to h i m e r r o n e o u s b e -c a u s e : [...] t h e r e ar e t h o s e w h o s e s a n i t y f l o w s f r o m the c o n s c i o u s s e p a r a t i o n of t h o s e t w o t h i n g s. If t h e r e e v e n is a n a t u r a l b e * I n g , an i r r e d u c i b l e s el f , it is r a t h e r s m a l l , I t hi n k , a n d w a y e v e n be the r o ot of a l l i m p e r s o n a t i o n - th e n a t u r a l b e i n g m a y be the s k i l l it se l f , the i n n a t e c a p a c i t y to i m p e r s o n a t e ^ . C o n s e q u e n t l y , p e o p l e w h o c o n s c i o u s l y or u n c o n s c i o u s l y i n v e n t r e a l i t y ’s f i c t i o n a l a l t e r n a t i v e s , w h o " i m p e r s o n a t e w h a t t h e y t h i n k t he y m i g h t l i k e to be, b e l i e v e t h e y o u g h t to be, or w i s h to b e t a k e n to b e " a r e a u t h e n t i c , m e n t a l l y h e a l t h y . R o t h ’s s p e c u l a t i o n s a b o u t the w r i t e r ’s a b i l i t y to j u g g l e w i t h f i c t i o n a n d r e a l i t y as w e l l as h i s o w n i m a g e . a r e , in an i n t e r e s t i n g a n d h i g h l y c o m p l e x w a y i n f l e c t e d by th e p l o t a n d the s t r u c t u r e of th e n o ve l. " T he C o u n t e r l i f e " c o n s i s t s of f i ve p a r t s or c h a p t e r s c o n -t a i n i n g v a r i o u s v e r s i o n s of th e s a m e s i t u a t i o n s . In p a r t o n e , H e n r y Z u c k e r m a n , N a t h a n ’s b r o t h e r , w h o c r i t i c i z e s t he w r i t e r for d e f a m i n g h i s f a m i l y an d the J e w i s h c u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e , h a s a h e a r t c o n d i t i o n , y e t r e f u s e s to t a k e a m e d i c a t i o n t h a t w o u l d 2 Ib i d e m , p. 145. ł I b i d e m , p. 320.
r e n d e r h i m p e r m a n e n t l y I m p o t a n t . A r i s k y h e a r t s u r g e r y is p e r -f o r m e d b u t p r o v e s u n s u c c e s s f u l . Heriry di e s. N a t h a n a t t e n d s the f u n e r a l . In p a r t two th e s a m e H e n r y s u r v i v e s th e o p e r a t i o n b ut d e c i d e s to a b a n d o n h i s w i f e « n d c h i l d r e n arid s e t t l e in I s r a el . N a t h a n v i s i t s h i m t h e r e an d t r i e s to d i s s u a d e hi m. Пп the w ay b a c k, d e s c r i b e d in p a r t t h r e e , N a t h a n is i n vo l un t a r i l y i n v o l v e d in an a t t e m p t to h i j a c k th e p l a n e . In p a r t f o u r we l e a r n th at it is N a t h a n w h o h a d a h e a r t c o n d i t i o n a n d an o p e -r a t i o n t h a t p -r o v e d to b e f a t al . A f t e r h i s f u n e r a l H e n r y g o e s t h r o u g h th e p a p e r s l e f t by N a t h a n a n d is e n r a g e d to f i n d t h e r e a d e s c r i p t i o n of h i s o w n d e a t h a n d f u n e r a l . He d e s t r o y s p a r t s of w h a t w a s to be a b o o k . Th e la s t p a r t of the n o v e l f u r t h e r c o m p l i c a t e s the s i t u a t i o n . N a t h a n d i d n o t die; A f t e r h i s t r ip to I s r a e l he j o i n s M a r i a , a g e n t i l e E n g l i s h w o m a n . H a v i n g g a i n -ed, a f t e r h i s v i s i t to I s r a el , a s t r o n g s e n s e ' of J e w i s h i d e n -tity , he l e ts M a r i a k n o w h i s d i s p l e a s u r e w i t h w h a t h e p e r c e i v -es as h e r f a m i l y ’s d e e p - r o o t e d a n t i - S e m i t i s m . M a r i a , s u r p r i s e d by N a t h a n ’s n e w o b s e s s i o n , a n d a n g e r e d by h i s u s e of h e r in h i s n o v e l , w h i c h r e d u c e s h e r to "a s e r i e s of f i c t i v e p r o p o s i -t i o n s" , d e c i d e s to l e a v e b o t h h i m arid h i s u n f i n i s h e d sl o r y : [. • 0 I r e c o g n i z e t h at to be b o r n, to live, a n d to di e is to c h a n g e form , b u t yo u o v e r d o it.. . I c a n ’t tak e a l i f e t i m e of n e v e r k n o w i n g if y o u ' r e f o o l i n g . 1 c a n ’t be t o y e d w i t h f o r -e v-er .. ’. I w i l l n o t be l o c k e d i n t o y o u r h e a d in t h i s way. 1 will n ot p a r t i c i p a t e in t h i s p r i m i t i v e drains, n ot e v e n for th e s a k e of y o u r f i c t i o n 4 . N a t h a n , in the l a s t w o r d s of t he n o v e l , c a u t i o n s her: " Th i s l i f e is as c l o s e to l i f e as you, a n d I, a n d o u r c h i l d c a n e v e r h o p e to c o m e " . Th at f a l s e h o o d a n d f a n t a s y m a y p l a y an i m p o r t a n t p a r t in the p r o c e s s of a w r i t e r ’s s e l f - d e p i c t i o n , R o t h h a s b e e n i n -d i c a t i n g s i n c e N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n w as f i r s t i n t r o d u c e d in "My L i f e as a M a n " in 19 74 . The v e r y s t r u c t u r e of th at b o o k s u g -g e s t s t h a t R o t h w a n t e d to f o c u s on t he r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the w r i t e r arid h i s f i c t i o n a l im a g e. T h e n a r r a t i v e is d i v i d e d i n to two s e c t i o n s . The f i rs t c o n s i s t s of t wo s t o r i e s c a l l e d " U s e f u l 4 I bioem, p. 3 1 2 - 3 1 5 .
F i c t i o n s " a nd d e a l s w i t h the a d v e n t u r e s of a f i c t i o n a l novelist, th e v e r y N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n , the s e c o n d , c a l l e d " My T r u e S t o r y " is a b o u t the a u t h o r o f t h e s e s t o r i e s , a y o u n g n o v e l i s t , P e t e r T a r n o p o l , o n w h o s e o s t e n s i b l y " t r u e " l i f e Z u c k e r m a n ’s f i c t i o n a l a d v e n t u r e s ar e b a s e d . W h a t is i n t e r e s t i n g h e r e is, t h a t w h i l e p o r t r a y i n g Z u c k e r m a n T a r n o p o l c o n s i s t e n t l y m i x e s h i s o w n c h a -r a c t e -r i s t i c s w i t h f e a t u -r e s th at a r e s t r i k i n g l y f i c t i c i o u s . So d o e s R o t h p o r t r a y i n g T a r n o p o l . C o n s e q u e n t l y , the t h r e e a u t h o r s , s e e m i n g l y s i m i l a r , d o n o t c o i n c i d e w i t h e a c h o t h e r . In h i s w i d e l y q u o t e d e s s a y p u b l i s h e d in 19 61 a n d e n t i t l e d " W r i t i n g A m e r i c a n F i c t i o n " R o t h a c c u s e s A m e r i c a n n o v e l i s t s l i k e B e l l o w , M a l a m u d a n d S t y r o n of i m a g i n a t i v e f a l s i f i c a t i o n of l i fe , of c r e a t i n g c h a r a c t e r s t ha t e x i s t o u t s i d e s o c i a l or h i s t o r i c a l r e a l i t i e s , of f o c u s i n g on t h e " c e l e b r a t i o n of t he s e l f " w h i c h is o f t e n " e x c l u d e d f r o m s o c i e t y , o r ... e x e r c i s e d a n d a d m i r e d in a f a n t a s t i c o n e " 5 . In " My L i f e as a M a n " , p u b l i s h e d a b o u t t h i r t e e n y e a r s a f t e r " W r i t i n g A m e r i c a n F i c t i o n " , T a r n o p o l , c h a g r i n e d by h i s p s y c h o a n a l y s t ’s i n a c c u r a t e e v a l u a t i o n of h i m -s e lf , d i -s c u -s -s e -s t he i m p o r t a n c e of the w r i t e r ’s c e n t r a l p r e o c c u -p a t i o n , the s e l f , in a w a y th at s e e m s to c o n t r a d i c t R o t h ’s e a r l i e r v iew s: [...] h i s ( t he w r i t e r ’s) s e l f is to m a n y a n o v e l i s t . . . the c l o s e s t s u b j e c t at h a n d d e m a n d i n g s c r u t i n y , a p r o b l e m f o r h i s a r t to s o l v e - g i v e n t he e n o r m o u s o b s t a c l e s to t r u t h f u l n e s s , t he a r t i s t i c p r o b l e m . H e is no t s i m p l y l o o k i n g i n t o t h e m i r r o r b e c a u s e he is t r a n s f i x e d by w h a t h e s e e s . R a t h e r , t h e a r t i s t ’s s u c c e s s d e p e n d s as m u c h as a n y t h i n g o n h i s p o w e r s of d e t a c h e - m e n t , on d ę - n a r c i s s i ż i n g h i m s e l f . T h a t ’s w h e r e th e e x c i t e m e n t c o m e s in. T h at h a r d c o n s c l u o a w o r k t h a t m a k e s it a r t ! 6 lo J o h n W. A l d r i d g e , R o t h ’s d e t e r m i n a t i o n in "My L i f e a s a M a n " to " s e e k h i s s u b j e c t t h r o u g h th e e x p l o r a t i o n of th e s e l f " is an e x a m p l e o f h o w t he a u t h o r s u c c u m b e d to th e " e r r o r s a n d e v a s i o n s of a r t i s t i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w h i c h h e o n c e d e t e c t e d in t he w o r k of o t h e r s " . A l d r i d g e a l s o a c c u s e s R o t h of being ca ug ht 5 Ph. R о t h, R e a d i n g M y s e l f a n d O t h e r s , F a r r a r , S t r a u s a n d G i r o u x , N e w V o r k 19 7 5 ( q u o t a t i o n s f r o m " W r i t i n g A m e r i c a n Fic- t i un " ), p. 1 1 7- 1 3 5 , p 2 4 2 ^ R 0 * h ’ L i f e as a Ma n , C o r g i B o o k s , L o n d o n 1976 ,
in th e c o n f u s i o n s of h i s t h e m e , of h a v i n g "n o f i r m u n d e r s t a n d -ing of w h a t h i 3 n o v e l s a r e s u p p o s e d to m e a n " , of n o t k n o w i n g h o w " to d i s c o v e r a n d p o s s e s s a s u b j e c t " . A l d r i d g e s a y s i ' C...] t h e p r o b l e m w i t h R o t h is t h a t tie c a n n o t f u n c t i o n as h i s o w n p s y c h i a t r i s t . He c a n n o t f i n d the m e a n i n g of h i s a n -g u i s h or h i s a n -g e r ! h e n c e , w e c a n n o t . All h e c a n d o is ta l k , ta lk , t a lk , s o m e t i m e s b r i l l i a n t l y , s o m e t i m e s t e d i o u s l y , b u t a i s w a y s t o w a r d a p o i n t t h a t is n e v e r r e a c h e d b e c a u s e it d o e s n o t e x i s t . W h a t he is u p to r e a l l y is - to u » e h i s o w n p h r a s e - a f o r m of l i t e r a r y o n a n i s m ' . T h e r e h a s b e e n a p r o f u s i o n of R o t h ’s " t a l k i n g " a b o u t w r i t -in g s i n c e A l d r i d g e w r o t e t h e s e w o r d s m o r e t h an a d o z e n y e a r s ago. T he w r i t e r - p r o t a g o n i s t ’s c o n f u s i o n s a b o u t n o t s o m u c h h i s a r t as h i s o w n i m a g e in it, c o n f u s i o n s o f t e n b o r d e r i n g on, as A l d r i d g e s a w it, " f a n a t i c a l s e l f - i n f a t u a t i o n " h a v e c o n t i n u e d to be R o t h ' s f a s c i n a t i o n s in the Z u c k e r m a n t r i l o g y . Y et A l -d r i -d g e ’s c l a i m t h at R o t h ’s e x p l o r a t i o n of t h e w r i t e r ’s p s y c h e g o e s in n o d e f i n i t e d i r e c t i o n l o st m o s t of its s t r e n g t h w h e n h i n t s t h a t Z u c k e r m a n f i n d s h i m s e l f m o t i v a t e d to d e a l w i t h th e C o n f l i c t b e t w e e n w h a t th e w r i t e r k n o w s a n d w h a t he i m a g i n e s b e c a m e m o r e f r e q u e n t . In the " G h o s t W r i t e r ” N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n , a 2 3- y e a r - o l d fledg-l i n g a u t h o r of o n l y f o u r p u b l i s h e d s h o r t s t o r i e s ( y o u n g e r t h a n in " M y L i f e as a M a n " , w h i c h w a s p u b l i s h e d f i v e y e a r s earlier) d e s c r i b e s h i s v i s i t to a m u c h o l d e r , r e c l u s i v e , r e c e n t l y " d i s -c o v e r e d " w r i t e r , E. I. L o n o l f . L o n o f f ’s r e s t r a i n e d a n d a s c e -ti c a t t i t u d e s a p p e a l to Z u c k e r m a n m u r e t h a n t h o s e of a s u c c e s s -ful, r i c h a n d s e l f - p u b l i c i z i n g a u t h o r , F e l i x A b r a v a n e l , w h o m h e h a d m e t s o m e t h r e e y e a r s e a r l i e r a n d n o w c o m p a r e s w i t h L o - n o f f . At th e s a m e t i m e t h e y o u n g w r i t e r f a n t a c i z e s a b o u t t h e p o w e r of i m a g i n a t i o n - "if o n l y I c o u l d i n v e n t as p r e s u m p t u o s l y as r e a l l i f e " , of b e i n g f r e e d of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o w a r d h i s f a -m i l y a n d J e w i s h r e a d e r s , of b e i n g a p a r t of t h e u n r e s t r a i n e d w o r l d of l o v e a n d s e x* W h e n h e m e e t s A m * , a h a u n t i n g y o u n g w o -m a n , a f o r -m e r s t u d e n t of L o n o f f a n d n o w p o s s i b l y h i s m i s t r e s s , 7 J. W. A l d r i d g e , Th e A m e r i c a n N o v e l a n d th e W a y We L i v e N o w , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , N e w Y o r k , O x f o r d 1 9 B 3 , p. 3 4 - 3 3 .
h e t a k e s h e r for the m i r a c u l o u s l y s u r v i v e d d e a t h c a m p m a r t y r , A n n e F r a n k , i m a g i n e s h i m s e l f m a r r y i n g h e r - a s y m b o l i c i n d i -c a t i o n t h a t i m a g i n a t i o n r a t h e r t h an d i s c i p l i n e will d o m i n a t e h i s f u t u r e a r t i s t i c p e r c e p t i o n s . In " Z u c k e r m a n U n b o u n d * ' N a t h a n is a l r e a d y a m a n in h i s t h i r t i e s a n d an a u t h o r of f o u r n o v e l s . T he f o u r t h on e, the b e s t - s e l l i n g , s c a n d a l o u s " C a r n o v s k y " ( p u b l i s h e d l i k e " P o r t n o y ’s C o m p l a i n t " in 1 9 6 9 ! ) b r o u g h t h i m a m i l l i o n d o l l a r s , fa m e a nd l o t s of s h o c k e d r e a d e r s . N a t h a n e n j o y s b e i n g r i c h a n d a c e l e b -r i t y (he is c l o s e r n o w to t he w o r l d l y A b r a v a n e l t h a n to the s e l f - d e n y i n g L o n o f f ) , ye t is n o t q u i t e a b l e to d e a l w r t h t he c o n f u s i o n s h i s w r i t i n g h a s b r o u g h t i n t o h i s l i f e . S t r a n g e r s a c c o s t h i m in th e s t r e e t , t a k e h i m f or C a r n o v s k y , o f f e r j o k e s , se x or i n s u l t s . S o m e o n e t h r e a t e n s to k i d n a p h i s m o t h e r . H i s f a m i l y is a s h a m e d , w i s h e s N a t h a n m a d e h i s f o r t u n e in s o m e other w a y . The b i o g r a p h i c a l f a n t a s y a b o u t b e i n g f a m o u s a n d p o w e r f u l as an a r t i s t h e e n g a g e d in in " M ay L i f e as a M a n " a n d " T h e G h o s t W r i t e r " , h a v i n g n o w m a t e r i a l i z e d r e v e r s e s i t s e l f in a p a r a d o x i c a l wa y, b e c o m e s h i s o w n n u i s a n c e a n d b u r d e n . He h i m -s e l f I-s the o b j e c t of p u b l i c f a n t a s y , th e v i c t i m of t h e r e a d -e r s ’ i m a g i n a t i o n . Z u c k e r m a n s e e s h i m s e l f , as t h e t i t l e s u g -g e s t s , as a l a t t e r - d a y P r o m e t h e u s w h o, h a v i n g b r o u g h t t h e g i f t of l i t e r a r y fi re , " C a r n o v s k y 1', to f r e e ma n , as w e l l as h i m -se lf , of t he d a r k n e s s of c u l t u r a l a n d s e x u a l c o n v e n t i o n s a n d p r e j u d i c e s , is m i s u n d e r s t o o d , p u n i s h e d , a n d f o r e v e r b o u n d a n d c h a i n e d by h i s r e a d e r s . S e e i n g t he w r i t e r ’s g r o w i n g f r u s t r a -t i o n a n d s e l f - i m p o s e d i s o l a t i o n , h i s f r i e n d a n d l i t e r a r y a g e n t o b s e r v e s : F i r s t y o u lo c k y o u r s e l f a w a y in o r d e r to s t i r u p y o u r i m a -g i n a t i o n , n o w y o u l oc k y o u r s e l f a w a y b e c a u s e y o u ’ve s t i r r e d u p t h e i r s . . . y o u h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l y c o n d u c t e d y o u r n o v e l i s t i c e x -p e r i m e n t a n d n o w t h at y o u ar e f a m o u s a l l o v e r t he h a y w i r e c o u n t r y fo r b e i n g h a y w i r e y o u r s e l f , y o u ’re e v e n m o r e s t u l t i -f i e d t h a n b e -f o r e . .. y o u ’r e h u m i l i a t e d , y o u i d i o t , b e c â u s e n o -b o d y a s i d e f r o m y o u s e e m s to se e it as a „ p r o f o u n d l y m q r a l a n d h i g h - m i n d e d ac t . " T h e y " m i s u n d e r s t o o d y o u . 8 Ph. R о t h, Z u c k e r m a n U n b o u n d , [irr:3 Z u c k e r m a n B o u n d , f a r r a r , S t r a u s a n d G i r o u x , N e w Y o r k 1 98 5, p. 3 0 4 - 5 0 5 .
Th o w r i t e r is d e t e r m i n e d io f r e s h i m s e l f of the u n b e a r a b l e r e p e r c u s a i o n s of h i s s u c c e s s as a w r i t e r . H i a " u n b i n d i n g " t a k -es p l a c e on d i f f e r e n t l e ve l s . The d e a t h of h i s f a t h e r , w h o b e -f o r e h e d i e s c a l l s h i m " b a s t a r d " , r e m o v e s the b o n d s of familial a l l e g i a n c e s , The w a y t h e p u b l i c r e s p o n d s to h i a w r i t i n g f r e e s h i m of h i s e a r l i e r i l l u s i o n s a b o u t a r t ’s m o r a l f u n c t i o n in the s o c i e t y . The d i s c o v e r y t h a t h e h i m s e l f , in a c u r i o u s w a y, h a s b e c o m e the v i c t i m of h i s o w n f i c t i o n d r a w s h i s a t t e n t i o n to the r e a d e r s i n a b i l i t y "to d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n the i l l u s i o n i s t a n d the i l l u s i o n " , m a k e s h i m w a n t to p r o t e c t h i m s e l f f r o m th e "r ea l c o n s e q u e n c e s ” of h i s art. In "T h e A n a t o m y L e s s o n " Z u c k e r m a n , s e v e r a l y e a r s o l d e r , is s t i l l s t r u g g l i n g w i t h " t h e u n r e c k o n e d c o n s e q u e n c e s of l i f e in a r t “ . H e is t o r m e n t e d by a d e b i l i t a t i n g , u n d i a g n o s e d p a i n in the n e c k ( w hi c h , on t h e s y m b o l i c le v e l s e e m s t a n t a m o u n t to the c o n f u s i o n s of b e i n g a w r i t e r ) a n d h o s t i l e c r i t i c s , p e r s o n i f i e d h e r e by a J e w i s h H a r v a r d p r o f e s s o r , M i l t o n A p p e l , w h o a c c u s e s Z u c k e r m a n of b e i n g a " s e l l - o u t to th e p o p - p o r n o c u l t u r e " arid of " d e p i c t i n g J e w i s h l i v e s fo r the s a k e of b e l i t t l i n g t h e m “ . I he w r i t e r a n g r i l y f i g h t s b a c k . H e t h i n k s t h a t A p p e l , l i k e m o s t A m e r i c a n r e a d e r s , is no t a b l e to d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n the a u t h o r a n d h i s l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n s , b e t w e e n " l i f e a n d a r t" . N o w h e is u n b o u n d e n o u g h to d e c l a r e : L i f e a n d a r t a r e d i s t i n c t . . . Yet the d i s t i n c t i o n is w h o l l v e l u s i v e . T ha t w r i t i n g is an ac t of i m a g i n a t i o n s e e m s to p e r -p l e x a n d i n f u r i a t e e v e r y o n e ^ . In an i n t e r v i e w in " P a r i s R e v i e w " R o t h m a k e s it. k n o w n th at h i s p r o t a g o n i s t o n l y e c h o e s h i s o w n v i e w s : N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n is an act. I t ’s a ll th e a r t o f i m p e r s o n a -t i on [...] M a k i n g f a k e b i o g r a p h y , f a l s e h i s t o r y , c o n c o c t i n g a h a l f - i m a g i n a r y e x i s t a n c e o ut of th e a c t u a l d r a m a of m y l i f e is my life . î h e r e h a s to be s o m e p l e a s u r e in t h i s jo b, a n d t h a t ’s it. Го g o a r o u n d in d i s g u i s e , To a c t a c h a r a c t e r . To p a s s o n e -s e l f of f 33 w h a t o n e is n ot . To p r e t e n d [...] Y o u d o n ’ t n e c e s -s a r i l y , а з a w r i t e r , h a v e to a b a n d o n y o u r o w n b i o g r a p h y c o m -p l e t e l y to e n g a g e in a n a c t of i m p e r s o n a t i o n . It m a y b e m o t e Ph. R o t h , The A n a t o m y L e s s o n , [in:] Z u c k e r m a n B o u n d . . .
i n t r i g u i n g w h e n yo u d o n ’t. Y ou d i s t o r t it, c a r i c a t u r e it, p a -r o d y it, yo u t o r t u r e a n d s u b v e r t it, y o u e x p l o i t it - al l to g i v e th e b i o g r a p h y t h at d i m e n s i o n t h a t w i l l e x c i t e y o u r v e r b a l l i f e ™ . If R o t h s o u n d s h e r e as if p l a y i n g w i t h h i s o w n b i o g r a p h y in f i c t i o n w e r e m a i n l y a s o u r c e of c r e a t i v e a m u s e m e n t , his h e r o c o m p l a i n s a b o u t th e r e s u l t s of s u c h a p e r s u a s i o n . To e s c a p e th e f r u s t r a t i o n s of b e i n g a w r i t e r , b e i n g " c h a i n e d to m y d w a r f d r a m a ti ll 1 d i e" , Z u c k e r m a n d e c i d e s in " T h e A n a t o m y lesson" to a b a n d o n l i t e r a t u r e a n d s t u d y m e d i c i n e i n s t e a d . A n a c c i d e n t , or s e l f - i n f l i c t e d i n ju r y , b r i n g s h i m to a h o s p i t a l , w h e r e , as th e n o v e l c l o s e s , h e i n s p e c t s th e w o u n d e d a n d th e s i c k , w a n t s to be u s e f u l , a h e a l e r . To s o m e c r i t i c s t he p r o t a g o n i s t ’s d e c i s i o n to g i v e u p l i -t e r a -t u r e s i g n i f i e d h i s s y m b o l i c d e a t h a n d s u g g e s t e d th at R o t h h a d i n c o n c l u s i v e l y e x h a u s t e d the w r i t e r t h em e. J o s e p h E p s t e i n t h o u g h t that: R o t h h i m s e l f m a y fe.el he c a n go n o f u r t h e r i n t h i s v e i n . He h a s w r i t t e n h i m s e l f i n t o a c o r n e r a n d up a w a l l ” . O t h e r s a r g u e d th at the a u t h o r of Z u c k e r m a n b e c a m e th e v i c -ti m of th e m a l a i s e h i s l i t e r a r y l o o k - a i i k e s u f f e r e d f r o m - a m i x t u r e of s e l f - r e f l e c t e d n a r c i s s i s m a n d m a s o c h i s m . " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " p r o v e s th at R o t h is n e i t h e r t i r e d w i t h , no r t h e m a t i c a l l y t r a p p e d by w r i t i n g a b o u t t h e d i l e m m a s of h i s p r o f e s s i o n . Z u c k e r m a n is n o t o n l y r e v i v e d h e r e as a c h a r a c t e r bu t a l s o g i v e n ful l c o n t r o l of h i s m e n t a l a n d a r t i s t i c l i fe. He p r o c l a i m s h i m s e l f to b e the h e a l e r he w a n t e d to b e c o m e in " T h e A n a t o m y L e s s o n " . H i s c u r e is the e x p l i c i t t h e o r y a b o u t l i f e b e i n g g o v e r n e d by s t o r i e s , a n d w r i t e r s b e i n g c o n t r o l l e d b y f a n t a s i e s . Y et a n x i e t i e s so d o m i n a n t in R o t h ’s e a r l i e r n o v e l s r e a p -p e a r , a n d i n t e n s i f y . Z u c k e r m a n f e a r s th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f b e i n g 10 H. L e e, I n t e r v i e w w i t h P h i l i p R o t h , " P a r i s R e v i e w " 198 4, F a ll . 11 J. f P s t e i fi, W h a t D o e s P h i l i p R o t h W a n t ? ’' C o m m e n -t a r y " 1984, J a n u a r y .
s e n n a s э " t e r r o r i s t " , of b e l n y m i s u n d e r s t o o d a n d a b a n d o n e d by tho s e he w a n t s to be h i s p a r t n e r s in h i s " c o u n t e r l i v i n g " . If l e ft by M a r i a , w h o m a y s t a n d m e t a p h o r i c a l l y fo r t h e r e a d e r w h o m the w r i t e r s h a p e s a n d c o n t r o l s , h i s w h o l e t h e o r y , Z u c k e r m a n s u -s p e c t -s , w o u l d p r o v e n o t v i a b l e , a n d o l d f r u s t r a t i o n s w o u l d r e -turn. He w o u l d a g a i n b e r e d u c e d to " t he i s o l a t i n g u n n at ur a ln e ss of s e l f - b a t t l i n g " , t h e o l d s t a t e ot b e i n g " c o m p l e t e l y o t h e r l e s s a n d r e a b s o r b e d w i t h i n " . At t h e e n d of the n o v e l he e n t r e a t s M a -ria to r e t u r n to him: C o m e b a c k an d w e ’ ll p l a y w i t h it t o g e t h e r . We c o u l d h a v e g r e a t t i m e s as H o m o L u d e n s a n d wi fe , i n v e n t i n g th e i m p e r f e c t f u t u r e . We c a n p r e t e n d to be a n y t h i n g we w a n t . Al l it t a k e s is i m p e r s o n a t i o n . T he n o v e l e n d s b e f o r e we l e a r n if M a r i a a g r e e s to r e t u r n to N a t h a n . He r d e c i s i o n b e c o m e s t h e r e a d e r ’s ow n. W i ll he a c -c e p t th e w r i t e r ’s i n v i t a t i o n to e n t e r t h e c o n f u s i n g a n d , as M a r i a s e e s it, r e s t r i c t i n g , y et e n c h a n t i n g w o r l d it) w h i c h h i s f a n t a s i e s e n d l e s s l y m u l t i p l y o u rs , in w h i c h d i s t i n c t i o n s b e -t w e e n l i f e a n d a r t a r e a b o l i s h e d an d in w h i c h p e o p l e c r e a t e a n d l i v e in " i m a g i n e d w o r l d s w h e r e we m a y f i n a l l y be o u r s e l -ves" . Is s u c h a w o r l d p o s s i b l e ? D o e s f i c t i o n h a v e the p o w e r to s h a p e a n d i m p r o v e o u r i n d i v i d u a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h r e a l i t y ? R o t h a d m i t s t h r o u g h Z u c k e r m a n a n d o t h e r c h a r a c t e r s that w h a t he is p r o f e s s i n g i n " T he C o u n t e r l i f e " is l i k e " t i p p i n g o v e r the e d g e " , p o s i n g c o n f u s i o n s t h at m a y p r o v e f u t i l e , or d e s t r u c t i v e . W h e n in o n e of th e n o v e l ’s p o s s i b i l i t i e s , N a t h a n di e s , H e n r y , a l w a y s s u s p i c i o u s of hi s b r o t h e r ’s l i t e r a r y e x -p e r i m e n t s c o n d e m n s t h e m thus: t...] th e c l o s e s t N a t h a n C o u l d e v e r c o m e to l i f e ’s r e a l c o n f u s i o n w a s in t h e s e f i c t i o n s h e c r e a t e d a b o u t it [. R о t h, T he C o u n t e r l i f e , p. 321. 13 I b i d e m, p. 229.
M a r l a , a f r a i d of t h e p e r n i c i o u s p r o p e r t i e s of f i c t i o n , p u t s N a t h a n ’s o e a t h d o w n to h i s " r e f u s a l to aiccept t h i n g s as t h e y a r e - e v e r y t h i n g r e i n v e n t e d , e v e n h i m s e l f " . T h e n s h e s a y s : H e d i d w i t h h i s l i f e e x a c t l y w h a t h e d i d in h i s f i c t i o n an d f i n a l l y p a i d f o r it. H e f i n a l l y c o n f u s e d th e t w o - j u s t w h a t h e w a s a l w a y s w a r n i n g e v e r y b o d y a g a i n s t S e l f - r e n e w a l s a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s , s o o f t e n c e n t r a l in R o t h ’s n o v e l s , h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a c c o m p a n i e d t h e r e b y n e w conf licts a n d d a n g e r s , e n c h a n t m e n t s h a v e b e e n s h a d o w e d by u n e x p e c t e d f e a r s a n d f r u s t r a t i o n s . L o o k i n g for s e l f - r e n e w a l t h r o u g h th e c o n c e p t of " c o u n t e r l i v i n g " Z u c k e r m a n c r e a t e s a s i t u a t i o n w h i c h m a y , or d o e s , d e p e n d i n g o n h o w o n e i n t e r p r e t s t h e n o v e l , b e c o m e the s o u r c e of n e w m e n t a l c h a o s , or e v e n h i s d e a t h . A f t e r t h e p u -b l i c a t i o n of " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " R o t h a d m i t t e d t h a t h e w a s for a l o n g t i m e " in a d e e p s t a t e of c o n f u s i o n , u n c e r t a i n t y a n d frus-t r a frus-t i o n " a b o u frus-t the w a y th e b o o k , h i s " m o s t c o m p l e x n a r r a t i v e p o s i t i o n e v e r t a k e h " , " w a n t e d to go e v e r y w h i c h w a y " . T h e n he u n d e r s t o o d th at " t h e c o n f u s i o n is th e i s s u e " in th e b o o k 1 '’. J o s e p h E p s t e i n c r i t i c i z e d K o t h a f e w y e a r s a g o f o r " i n s i s -t i n g -t h a-t h e is n o t, in h i s n o v e l s , w r i t i n g a b o u t P h i l i p R o th , e x c e p t t h r o u g h t h e t r a n s m u t a t i o n s of a r t " w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g to " c u l t i v a t e the i d i o s y n c r a t i c v i s i o n , to p l o w a w a y at ( h i s ) o w n o b s e s s i o n s , b e c o m i n g a b i t of a c r a n k , s o m e t h i n g of a c r a c k po t , a n d r i s k b e i n g a m i n o r w r i t e r i n d e e d " 1 6 . T h e o t h e r , b e t t e r w a y for an a u t h o r w h o w a n t s to w r i t e a b o u t h i m s e l f , E p s t e i n a r g u e s , is " t h r o u g h i n v e n t i o n , i m a g i n a t i o n , f r e s h c r e a t i o n , gr ea t er s u b -t l e -t y " . " I h e C o u n t e r l i f e " s e e m s to b e c u t o u t to m e e t E p s t e i n ’s e x p e c t a t i o n s . It is p r o b a b l y R o t h ’s b e s t n o v e l a b o u t Z u c k e r m a n the m o s t i m a g i n a t i v e arid the m o s t w i t t y r e f l e c t i o n on the a m b i g -u o -u s r e l a t i o n s of w o r d s a n d r e a l i t y , a f r e s h w a y of d e a l i n g w i t h the i m a g e of a w r i t e r in f i c t i o n . 14 I b i d e m, p. 250. 15 Ph. R о t h, W r i t e r s H a v e a T h i r d E y e , " U S N e w s a n d W o r l d R e p o r t " 1987, F e b r u a r y 2, 16 1. E p s t e i n , o p . c i t .
E p s t e i n a n d R o t h a r e s t i l l far a w ay , h o w e v e r , w h e n it c o m e s to c h a r a c t e r i z i n g n e w a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l f i c t i o n . " T h e c l o s e r we ge t to ou r o w n da y , E p s t e i n p o i n t s o ut , " t h e s m a l l e r the ga p b e t w e e n the f i c t i o n a l a n d t h e a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l " . " C o n t r a r y to the g e n e r a l b e l i e f " , R o t h s a y s in " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " , " it is the d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n the w r i t e r ’s l i f e a n d h i s n o v e l t h a t is the m o s t i n t r i g u i n g a s p e c t of hi s i m a g i n a t i o n " . In h i s o w n s t a t e m e n t s an d i n t e r v i e w s , R o t h i m p l i e s th at, t h o u g h h i s w r i t i n g h a s a l w a y s b e e n s l o w a n d fu l l of f r u s t r a -tio n, h i s r e i n v e n t i n g h i m s e l f in f i c t i o n h a s b e e n d o n e for e n -j o y m e n t r a t h e r t h a n ou t of n e c e s s i t y . H i s h e r o is a l l o w e d to l e a r n a b o u t the " i n t r i g u i n g " p a r t of d e a l i n g w i t h h i m s e l f s l o w -ly, in s t a g e s , by w a y of d e f e n d i n g h i m s e l f a g a i n s t th e b a c k l a s h of h i s b e i n g p o p u l a r a n d c o n t r o v e r s i a l . The a u t h o r a n d the h e r o o f " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " m e e t in t h e i r f a s c i n a t i o n w i t h , a n d s a n c t i f i c a t i o n of th e f a l s e n e s s of l i t e r a r y s e l f -d e pi c ti o n . The r e a d e r c a n t r u s t n e i t h e r the a r t i s t no r t h e tale . I n s t i t u t e of E n g l i s h S t u d i e s U n i v e r s i t y of L ó d i K r z y s z t o f A n d r z e j c z a k IM M N I E J S Z A P R Z E P A Ś Ć , T Y M W I Ę K S Z Y O Y S T A N S : W I Z E R U N E K P I S A R Z A W P R O Z I E P H I L I P A R O I H A N a t h a n Z u c k e r m a n , b o h a t e r k i l k u p o w i e ś c i P h i l i p a R o t ha , tak-że w y d a n e j w s t y c z n i u 1 9 8 7 r. " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " , pr z y po m in a s w o -j e g o t w ó r c ę . R o t h n i e t w o r z y j e d n a k a u t o p o r t r e t u l i t e r a c k i e g o , u k a z u j e r a c z e j r o s n ą c ą p o t r z e b ę t w o r z e n i a a t m o s f e r y t a j em n ic z o -śc i i s w o i s t e g o k a m u f l a ż u w o k ó ł p o s t a c i Z u c k e r m a n a , p o d k r e ś l a d y s t a n s m i ę d z y p i s a r z e m i j e g o l i t e r a c k i m 3 l t e r ego. W " T h e C o u n t e r l i f e " Z u c k e r m a n u k a z u j e f i k c y j n e i s u b i e k t y w n e , nieskort- c z e n i e z ł o ż o n e i n t e r p r e t a c j e s a m e g o s i e b i e i s w o j e g o o t oc z en i a . D o s t r z e g a w n i c h ź r ó d ł o s i ł y i a r t y s t y c z n e j i n s p i r a c j i pisa.rza. P o m y s ł o w o i l u s t r u j ą c n o w ą f i l o z o f i c z n o a r t y s t y c z n ą p o s t a w ę s w o -j e g o b o h a t e r a , R o t h k a ż e c z y t e l n i k o w i z a s t a n a w i a ć s i ę n a d z ł o -ż o n o ś c i ą -ż y c i a , p o t e n c j a ł e m l u d z k i e j w y o b r a ź n i i p o t r z e b ą t w o -r z e n i a w ł a s n y c h m a s e k .
