In The Counterlife, the Zuckerman brothers competitively try to perfect themselves with a process of self- renewal. After an analysis of Henry and Nathans idealistic values, qualities and never ending competiveness; they are just as displeased and unsettled as they were in the beginning. This being a clear demonstration that true happiness cannot be achieved through the foolish attempt to overcome error. Both Henry and Nathan consistently demonstrate their unique, lousy qualities throughout each different life, proving that you can never really repair your imperfections. Carol “urged Henry to talk to a psychotherapist” when his impotency rendered him distraught. How fitting that he instead turned to Nathan, who “pretending to be the therapist”
…show more content…
In their not-so-friendly competition of certainty, Henry and Nathan fight to establish dominance in different areas of living. Henry believes he has the upper hand with religion, since “the sort of Jew” (90) Nathan is, is an “ordinary American” one (141). Henry has made a large adjustment in the beginning of “Judea”; closing his practice after months of post-bypass surgery related depression, and “flew off to Israel” in search of estranged happiness (62). When Nathan of all people contacts him, even he has “to admit that it’s a little bizarre.” Henry is shocked, and quickly becomes defensive off the belief that he is here “to remind him of family obligations,” and “decide if he’s deranged” (83). Israel is Henrys’ safe haven, where his type of person is respected, and where “no one gives a fuck about a writer like his brother” (212). Once it was clear that the main discomfort he had tried to escape from had not only found him, but was “in Jerusalem” and “here for Chanukah,” his superiority complex was taken down a peg (82). Nathans subconscious focuses solely on opposing the beliefs of others, rather than developing some of his own. Once understanding how strongly Henry identifies with Judaism, he finds humour in what he would have previously left alone. He critically remarks at the Wailing Wall that the intense gathering of Jews …show more content…
It is at Henrys funeral the first time Nathan demonstrates his power over the story line and his brother’s fate. After reading a scene taken from Henrys private excursions into the abyss of sexual freedom, Nathan decides “that’s not them,” and both literally and figuratively flushes the scene before returning to Henrys Shiva. This pertains to the idea of Henry being an unfulfilled character, and Nathan searching for the missing piece to his book –and therefore his own existence, without wanting to admit it being a messy, ineffective task. Nathans overwhelming need to find structure in his life stems from just how far he intertwines his story with reality. He has normalized his need to organize his “old notes [on Henry] from their raw factuality” to something publishable (42,) because straightening out his book means finding stability in his life, and relates to Roths’ willingness to question his own ideas on the human condition. That is the true difference between author and asshole; taking real pieces of experience and crafting them into a story of interest, vs. simply ransacking his newly desist brothers private life to make a profit. Henry is dead, and while Nathan is somewhat melancholic, tells the readers regrettably that “he had felt for him terribly, and…stupidly, did nothing to stop him (35). This is, if anything,
In their not-so-friendly competition of certainty, Henry and Nathan fight to establish dominance in different areas of living. Henry believes he has the upper hand with religion, since “the sort of Jew” (90) Nathan is, is an “ordinary American” one (141). Henry has made a large adjustment in the beginning of “Judea”; closing his practice after months of post-bypass surgery related depression, and “flew off to Israel” in search of estranged happiness (62). When Nathan of all people contacts him, even he has “to admit that it’s a little bizarre.” Henry is shocked, and quickly becomes defensive off the belief that he is here “to remind him of family obligations,” and “decide if he’s deranged” (83). Israel is Henrys’ safe haven, where his type of person is respected, and where “no one gives a fuck about a writer like his brother” (212). Once it was clear that the main discomfort he had tried to escape from had not only found him, but was “in Jerusalem” and “here for Chanukah,” his superiority complex was taken down a peg (82). Nathans subconscious focuses solely on opposing the beliefs of others, rather than developing some of his own. Once understanding how strongly Henry identifies with Judaism, he finds humour in what he would have previously left alone. He critically remarks at the Wailing Wall that the intense gathering of Jews …show more content…
It is at Henrys funeral the first time Nathan demonstrates his power over the story line and his brother’s fate. After reading a scene taken from Henrys private excursions into the abyss of sexual freedom, Nathan decides “that’s not them,” and both literally and figuratively flushes the scene before returning to Henrys Shiva. This pertains to the idea of Henry being an unfulfilled character, and Nathan searching for the missing piece to his book –and therefore his own existence, without wanting to admit it being a messy, ineffective task. Nathans overwhelming need to find structure in his life stems from just how far he intertwines his story with reality. He has normalized his need to organize his “old notes [on Henry] from their raw factuality” to something publishable (42,) because straightening out his book means finding stability in his life, and relates to Roths’ willingness to question his own ideas on the human condition. That is the true difference between author and asshole; taking real pieces of experience and crafting them into a story of interest, vs. simply ransacking his newly desist brothers private life to make a profit. Henry is dead, and while Nathan is somewhat melancholic, tells the readers regrettably that “he had felt for him terribly, and…stupidly, did nothing to stop him (35). This is, if anything,