ABSTRACT

Philip Roth is one of the most important and influential writers in American literary world, and his works have been studied by many scholars at home and abroad. It can be found that space, politics and racism are always the main elements in Roth’s works. This thesis, focusing on the three elements in Roth’s famous fiction “Eli, the Fanatic”, will discuss three main spaces in it, the interrelationship between these spaces, different political awareness in this story and the interrelationship between these political views. Then this paper will also discuss how racism has affected the life of different groups of Jews. 

Key words：Philip Roth; Space; Political Awareness; Racism

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Brief Introduction to Philip Roth and “Eli, the Fanatic”-1

1.2 Literature Review-3

1.3 Plan of the Thesis-5

Chapter Two SPACES IN “ELI, THE FANATIC”-7

2.1 Three Spaces in “Eli, the Fanatic”-7

2.1.1 The Jewish refugee school-7

2.1.2 The Jewish community-8

2.1.3 The living space of white Americans-9

2.2 Interrelationship of the Three Spaces-10

Chapter Three POLITICAL AWARENESS AND RACISM-12

3.1 Political Awareness-12

3.2 Racism-13

3.2.1 The Jewish refugee school-13

3.2.2 The Jewish immigrant community-14

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-16