American Pastoral

How does American Pastoral explore the tension between the Swede’s longing for acceptance in a world dominated by men like Bill Orcutt and his desire to be faithful to his Jewish identity and community?

When the Swede confronts his adult daughter, he realizes to his horror that he doesn’t know her at all. To what degree does he know the other people in his life? To what degree does he know himself? What commentary on the concept of identity does the novel offer?

As the Swede reflects on Merry’s childhood, seeking answers to why she turned so violent, he ponders several possibilities. What possible explanations does he fail to consider? How does he reconcile his sense of himself as a good parent with the tragic outcome of his daughter’s life?

American Pastoral is in part a novel about what it means to be American or to become American. How does the Swede define Americanness, and how is this different from how other characters—for example, his father, Lou Levov—define it?

When Zuckerman has dinner with the Swede, he finds many of his preconceptions shattered. What are some of those preconceptions, and what convinces Zuckerman that he has misjudged the Swede?

The Swede approaches Zuckerman to write a memorial to his father (although Zuckerman deduces later that he really wants him to write about his own tragedy). What is Roth implying about the power of words to process trauma?

What is the significance of the Old Rimrock house? Why does the Swede love it so much despite its age and flaws? Why does Dawn dislike it so much?

Rita Cohen, as a character, is never fully identified. What narrative purpose does she serve?