Defender of the Faith

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In Philip Roths, Defender of the Faith, there is a great intra personal struggle involving

the storys protagonist, Sergeant Nathan Marx. Throughout the story he is challenged in learning

how to live as not only a sergeant, but also a Jewish man, and a human being. In facing difficult

Online essay help on Defender of the Faith decisions, he realizes that these three identities are very difficult to distinguish. This conflict

becomes the recurring theme of the story. The reader is able to see the trouble Marx has in

confronting his faith, occupation, and humanity, and in doing this the readers attention is called

too just how hard this truly is in life.

The theme is greatly demonstrated in Marx relationship with the Jewish soldiers, Sheldon

Grossbart, Larry Fishbein, and Michael Halpern. The three soldiers recognize Marxs religion and

immediately take advantage of it. They begin by asking Marx for permission to attend the services

for Jews on Friday night, rather than participating in the G.I. party with the rest of the soldiers.

Their request seems sincere until their behavior at the service is described. For such hardcore

Jewish boys they were very irreverent, childish, and almost sacrilegious at the service. Their

motive was clearly to get out of the G.I. party, and not have to worry about what the other soldiers would say. They manipulated Marx in order to get what they wanted. The soldiers played upon the element of Marxs religion in order to get out of cleaning. This begins the series of questions that start invading Marxs mind. What comes first, being a sergeant, or being a Jew? Where can the line between the two be drawn?

The second instance is Grossbart writing a letter supposedly from his father to a congressman complaining about the military food. Grossbart insists that the food causes him to throw up, being that none of it is kosher and he is such an orthodox Jew. When Grossbart is questioned about the letter and his eating habits, he againings Marx in on his answer. Grossbart says, "I eat because I have to, sir. But Sergeant Marx will testify to the fact that I dont eat one mouthful more than I need in order to survive." After Grossbart says, this Marx denies that he has any knowledge of how Grossbart eats. Grossbart then answers saying, "But you heard the rabbi . . . He told us what to do, and I listened." By making clear and obvious remarks regarding their trip to the Jewish services he is again revealing the underlying theme. Is Marx not a Jew? Does Marx not know the pains of eating like this? Is Marx not a sergeant, someone well above a soldier like Grossbart in rank? Fortunately, Captain Barrett is able to make a legitimate reason to refuse Grossbarts request. Marx has been in the service for three years and two months and he has not once peeped about the food.

Grossbart continues to manipulate Marxs position when he asks for a favor, information regarding where the soldiers are going to be sent. Grossbart wants to know this information supposedly because his parents are severely worried, but it is obvious that he is just using his false kinship with Marx to acquire the answer to his question. Grossbart is successful in affecting Marx, but not in getting hold of any concrete answer as to where they are being sent. The personal ties of family that Grossbart speaks of really get to Marx. These images remind Marx that Grossbart was once a child, with a loving, protective family; just as Marx himself was. This conflict really questions the human side of Marx. Is it necessary to be such a stern sergeant at all times? When can human emotion actually be considered?

The theme is again presented during the absence of Captain Barrett. Grossbart attempts to take advantage of the Captains absence by asking Marx to give him a pass to leave for the weekend. Grossbart wants to go to St. Louis and have a Passover dinner with his relatives who live there. Marx is beginning to see through the faithless acts Grossbart is continually putting on. Just because he is Jewish, does not mean he deserves any special treatment. Yet, when Grossbart goes so far as to compare Marx to Hitler and states that he will go even without a pass, Marx gives in. Grossbart was clearly pushing Marxs limits yet again. When can a man stop being a man? When can a Jew stop being a Jew? When does a sergeant stop being a sergeant? These are the questions that flood Marxs mind. These are the questions in life that are greatly emotionally demanding.

The theme is so very clear in Marxs visible struggle. He is a soldier and a Jew, but above all he is a man. He has a conscience, which is precisely what causes him to continue allowing the soldiers and Grossbart to affect him. He is also a very sensitive person. He is sensitive to not only the needs of those around him, but to the validity of his actions and beliefs as a person. Marxs fight is just beginning, he has learned the importance of knowing when to be a soldier, when to be a Jew, and when to be a man. This is a difficult battle that all humans inevitably face.

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