Conversion Of The Jews By Philip Roth Literary Analysis

Conversion of the Jews by Philip Roth In the “Conversion of the Jews” Philip Roth shows how the main character Ozzie believes in his religion. During the story it shows how Ozzie is a truth-speaker and does not deal with factual inconsistencies when it comes to his religion. Also while reading this story one can tell how passionate Ozzie is about Judaism and how he deeply respects the beliefs and rituals of his religion. Another part of Ozzie that is shown is that he has a lot of respect for his family and his faith. During the story Ozzie answers the phone but puts it to his chest so his mother cannot hear the ring or any sound from it. “Even when she was dressed up she didn’t look like a chosen person. But when she lit candles she looked
The first time Ozzie went to Rabbi Binder he was keen minded. “The first time he had wanted to know how Rabbi Binder could call the Jews ‘The Chosen People’ if the Declaration of Independence claimed all men to be created equal. Rabbi Binder tried to distinguish for him between political equality and spiritual legitimacy, but what Ozzie wanted to know, he insisted vehemently, was different. That was the first time his mother had to come”. Also Ozzie religion he takes his time reading about it so he can understand his religion better than he already does. Even though Ozzie gets taunted by Rabbi Binder “to read faster” Ozzie stays at the same speed because he doesn’t care that Rabbi Binder wants him to read faster. Also Ozzie can be defiant like any 13 year old kid would be. He is defiant when he challenges the Rabbi Binder over Jesus birth. But while being defiant about id Rabbi Binder accidently struck Ozzie and after Ozzie was struck Ozzie went up to the roof top to question his own existence by asking himself “is it me?” Ozzie challenges the rabbi’s authority and refuses to come down from the roof. At that moment Ozzie realizes that he is in control of his destiny and
When he is trying to deal with the right and wrong it requires a maturity and insight beyond his years. “You’re getting to be a man” Sartoris explains to his ten-year-old son after giving him a blow to the head. When Sartoris was growing up his world consisted of violence being the fundamental element when it came to manhood and sometimes that is all he knows because of growing up with his father. Sartoris is highly influenced by his father but also has a sense of justice in him too. While reading the story you get the sense of when Sartoris was growing up he didn’t have very much education he is a raw person, is much unformed with nature, and is not able to have stability in a permanent home. The scene of the de Spain house gives him an automatic feeling of peace and joy but as Faulkner comments; the child could not have state such a reaction into words. Later Sartoris reacts automatically again when he prevents his father from burning de Spain’s barn. He cannot expressive why he warns de Spain or ultimately runs away, but his actions suggest that Sartoris’s core consists of goodness and morality rather than the corruption that his father attempts to teach him. Sartoris sees through his father’s attempts to manipulate him by pushing on the importance of family loyalty as a means of guaranteeing Sartoris’s silence. At the end of