The task of retaining one’s faith and staying true to one’s religious convictions becomes particularly hard during times of social unrest, and nearly impossible when sociopolitical issues result in war. In his short story “Defender of the Faith,” Philip Roth explores the difficulty of reconciling one’s responsibilities as a soldier with those of a believer, creating a unique tension. However, apart from being a unique dilemma, the problem that Roth examines allows touching upon a plethora of issues and areas, including sociocultural, socioeconomic, sociopolitical, and technological concerns. By studying the problem of retaining faith amidst a military setting from the described standpoints, one will conclude that disguising anti-Semitism as the choice between the need of an individual and those of the community needs to be condemned.
Approaching the story from the perspective of religion and spirituality, it will be necessary to concede that the dilemma between the well-being of many and the spiritual integrity of an individual represents quite a difficult choice. At the same time, the author offers the lens of religious tolerance – or, to be more accurate, the lack thereof – as the foundational source of conflict: “Jewish personnel who want to attend services this evening are to fall out in front of the orderly room at 1900” (Roth). Thus, a crucial message concerning the importance of reconciling interpersonal differences in the face of a common threat is conveyed flawlessly. Paul’s inability to compromise and recognize his lack of tolerance toward the Jewish officer as the direct outcome of his bigotry leads to a tragic clash.
To convey his message, the author uses quite a several rhetorical devices in his work. Viewing the story from the standpoint of a rhetorical analysis, one will notice the presence of multiple literary devices, the irony being the key one. Although one might find it difficult to pin down the exact situation in which irony is used due to the subtle nature of it, there can be no doubt that ironic statements are ubiquitous in the story. For example, the very title of the story can be considered an ironic statement since the commander defined as the defender of the faith is the exact opposite of that (Morley 99). The introduction of irony as the means of emphasizing the controversy of the situation serves its purpose perfectly. Moreover, since the characters struggle to come to grips with the necessity to compromise their faith for the sake of others’ well-being, irony also serves an internal function within the narrative. Namely, it becomes the coping mechanism that helps the lead characters to service (Urdiales-Shaw 05). Overall, the application of irony as the key rhetoric device within the story allows amplifying the scope of the tragedy that the lead characters face.
The necessity to reconcile the need for individual cultural practices and the well-being of a community as the shortest path to the promotion of spiritual growth is scrutinized as an important idea in Roth’s short story. Although it might seem that the characters never reach the state of enlightenment at which they recognize the way of resolving the described dilemma, the solution is hinted at in multiple parts of the narrative. Using complex characters and incorporating multiple themes into his story, Roth embodied the complicated nature of the argument, representing it in its natural roughness and uncompromising glory. By using interactions between the characters as the tool for introducing different sides of the argument instead of laying it out in the text explicitly, Roth helped his audience to come to their own, unique conclusions concerning the subject matter. Thus, the main idea of religious prejudices and especially the problem of anti-Semitism have been explored in-depth in the story under analysis.
The fact that the author adds a theme of WWII as the background in which the key events take place might seem like a rather blatant attempt at increasing the stakes within the novel. However, in the context of the conflict that Roth explores, the specified choice works extraordinarily well. By juxtaposing the misery of millions of people to the personal struggles of individual soldiers, while simultaneously framing it as prejudices occurring due to cross-cultural conflicts, the author paints a unique picture of a very human and, therefore, easily relatable tragedy. The notion of Jewishness and the willingness of the lead character to give up a certain part of his identity to be able to contribute to the fight against the threat create a very touching and tragic premise.
Although seemingly disjointed, the specified themes blend exceptionally well as the story progresses and the main point of conflict emerges. Namely, the problem of growing numb to the pain of others and the changes to one’s identity as a result of post-war trauma overshadows the initial messages. As Roth comments on the issue, “I had been fortunate enough to develop an infantryman’s heart, which, like his feet, at first aches and swells but finally grows horny enough for him to travel the weirdest paths without feeling a thing” (Roth). The described change does not justify the presence of anti-Semitism and prejudices in the environment of the army, yet it explains them from a very humanistic perspective. Showing that, at the time of drastic challenges and trials, human nature shows both its best and its ugliest side, the author depicts the struggle between the positive change and the negative one.
Therefore, the themes represented in the novel fit exceptionally well with the development of the leading character, showing how he is finally exhausted and emotionally drained by the challenges of the war. Combined with the presence of severe injustice as it pertained to his faith and religious identity, the hardships of the war have led to him gaining the perspective that left him a husk of his former self. Therefore, the novel cleverly and organically incorporates the main theme with the development of the character, allowing the reader to experience the tragedy along with Nathan Marx.
By incorporating memorable and relatable characters into the narrative, as well as including rhetorical devices that allow conveying the key points to the reader all the more effectively, the author created the narrative that renders a very complex issue in an elegant and thought-provoking manner. Namely, the problem of religious intolerance and the struggle of making a personal choice between the individual spiritual growth and the fight for the well-being of others are examined in the story in depth. As a result, the novel leaves its readers in a very wistful mood, examining their belief system and the presence of prejudices toward others in it.
Works Cited
Morley, Catherine. “The Book of My Life is a Book of Voices”: Philip Roth and the Bloodlines of his Fiction.” Philip Roth Studies, vol. 15, no. 1, 2019, pp. 98-104.
Roth, Philip. “Defender of the Faith.” The New Yorker, 1959, Web.
Urdiales-Shaw, Martín. “Selves, Sex, Satire and the States: Fifty Years of Inexhaustible Roth.” Informe De La Presidenta De Saas, vol. 1, no. 1, 2018, p. 95.