Next Section Glossary Previous Section Portnoy's Complaint Summary How To Cite in MLA Format Anonymous 'Portnoy’s Complaint Characters'. Will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback. You can help us out by revising, improving and updatingĪfter you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. This is likely a reference to the Jewish story of the nation of Israel who consistently removed God's blessing from upon themselves by pursuing sexual relationships with women from the outsider cultures of the Middle East. The accounts of Portnoy's sexual adventures orbit his fascination with outsider women. His meek timidity is a foil for the mother and an example of the reversal of traditional gender roles. Portnoy's fatherĪn emasculated man who works for a firm who doesn't respect him much, possibly because he is a Jew. She may serve as a type to explore the various religious implications of Portnoy's post-modern addictions. Portnoy's motherĪ hysterically stereotypical Jewish mother whose flamboyance and shrill personality lead Portnoy to believe during early childhood that she was all-powerful and ever-present. Spielvogel's patient listening is the backdrop of the narrative. Portnoy's secondary conflict is his complex relationship to his cultural identity as a Jewish man. Portnoys Complaint tells the tale of young Jewish lawyer Alexander Portnoy and his scandalous sexual confessions to his psychiatrist.

His stories are accounts of taboo, vulgarity and self-loathing. 3 The novel tells the humorous monologue of 'a lust. 2 Its success turned 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. Spielvogel who confides in the doctor all his various neuroses and compulsions surrounding his overwhelming addiction to sexuality and sensuality. Portnoy's Complaint is a 1969 American novel by Philip Roth. Written by people who wish to remain anonymous We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.

The portnoy's complaint