Rabbit Redux

Rabbit Redux. The novel is the second book in John Updike's Rabbit series, which includes Rabbit, Run, Rabbit Is Rich, Rabbit at Rest, and Rabbit Remembered. It was published in 1971 by Alfred A. Knopf and won the National Book Award in 1972, with Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut being notable authors of the time. The book explores the life of Harry Angstrom, also known as Rabbit, as he navigates the complexities of American society in the late 1960s, with influences from The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine.

Introduction

The novel is set in the fictional town of Brewer, Pennsylvania, which is modeled after Reading, Pennsylvania, John Updike's hometown. The story takes place in 1969, a time of great social change in the United States, with the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement being major factors. Harry Angstrom is a former high school basketball star who is struggling to find his place in the world, with references to NBA players like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. He is married to Janice Angstrom and has a young son, Nelson Angstrom, who is a student at Harvard University. The novel explores themes of identity, morality, and the American Dream, with influences from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea.

Plot

The plot of the novel revolves around Harry Angstrom's infidelity and his subsequent separation from his wife, Janice Angstrom. He becomes involved with a young Sylvia, a prostitute who is also a feminist and a civil rights activist, with connections to Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan. Meanwhile, Janice Angstrom begins an affair with Stavros, a Greek-American car salesman, who is a fan of Aristotle Onassis and Henry Ford. The novel explores the complexities of relationships and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world, with references to The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Woodstock. As the story unfolds, Harry Angstrom must confront his own flaws and weaknesses, as well as the societal expectations placed upon him, with influences from Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

Characters

The characters in the novel are complex and multi-dimensional, with each one representing a different aspect of American society. Harry Angstrom is the protagonist, a former high school basketball star who is struggling to find his place in the world, with similarities to Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. Janice Angstrom is his wife, who is also searching for meaning and identity, with connections to Simone de Beauvoir and Germaine Greer. Sylvia is the young prostitute who becomes involved with Harry Angstrom, and represents the changing values and mores of the time, with references to Playboy and Hugh Hefner. Other notable characters include Reverend Eccles, a Lutheran minister who is struggling with his own faith, with influences from Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Fritz Kruppenbach, a psychiatrist who is treating Harry Angstrom for his emotional problems, with connections to Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

Themes

The novel explores several themes, including the search for identity and meaning, the complexities of relationships, and the impact of societal expectations on individual lives. The American Dream is a major theme, as Harry Angstrom and other characters struggle to achieve their goals and find happiness, with references to The Great Gatsby and The Pursuit of Happyness. The novel also explores the changing values and mores of the time, including the Civil Rights Movement and the feminist movement, with influences from Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. The theme of morality is also present, as characters grapple with their own flaws and weaknesses, with connections to Immanuel Kant and Jean-Paul Sartre.

Reception

The novel received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with many reviewers praising John Updike's nuanced and insightful portrayal of American society. The novel won the National Book Award in 1972, and has since been recognized as a classic of American literature, with influences from The New York Times Book Review and The Paris Review. The novel has been praised for its complex characters, its exploration of themes, and its vivid portrayal of the time period, with references to The Washington Post and Time Magazine. The novel has also been criticized for its portrayal of women and its treatment of feminist themes, with connections to Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan.

Background

The novel was written during a time of great social change in the United States, with the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement being major factors. John Updike was influenced by the events of the time, as well as by the works of other authors, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. The novel is part of the Rabbit series, which includes Rabbit, Run, Rabbit Is Rich, Rabbit at Rest, and Rabbit Remembered. The series follows the life of Harry Angstrom as he navigates the complexities of American society, with references to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine. The novel has been recognized as a classic of American literature, and continues to be widely read and studied today, with influences from Harvard University and Yale University. Category:American novels