With a recent interest into modernist works, I’ve been wanting to see and understand how an author communicates and relates to his readers of today, where the world has become so selfish and saturated by news and media, where there’s serious lack of strong sense of morals and inhibition from the senses. Strolling around in the French Concession in Shanghai over the weekend, I found “The Human Stain” for sale at a side-street cart, and this was how my relationship with Roth for the first time began.
I really haven’t read any modernist book that sets in current time, that manages to develop a character that is deep and insightful despite living in the superficial world of today. (I suppose though one reason, is most books I’ve read are set on the west coast..) Roth crafts a character living through real issues of our time in “The Human Stain.” The American dream is desired, and yet opportunities are not fair. How far along is one willing to change one’s fate, to override the inequalities, hindrances that are inherent in one’s race. I feel that Roth excelled in portraying Coleman Silk, and has pushed his character to its furthest boundary, where he has lived a life of his own grand plan, that is until the end, in the utmost ironic way, did Coleman Silk lose all that he is built up at Athena. Beyond this, everything is written to support the environment of skepticism, and lack of bonds between people, as each is so self-centered in a way to be exploitative, and all hidden under a pretentious surface of righteousness and moral superiority.
Overall, I think the book was quite provoking, in calling to mind questions about one’s own actions, what we are willing to give up to get what we want, and whether they are worth it. Next Roth book that I would like to read, when I get around to it would be “The Counterlife,” as I feel explores some similar themes, namely that what’s the price one is willing to pay in the struggle to change personal fortune and to reshape history.