of possible essay topics
Goodbye Columbus is a novella written by Philip Roth It first appeared in 1959 and was published in a separate volume in 1960 The story follows Neil Klugman, a Jewish man from New Jersey, as he discovers an attraction to Brenda Patimkin, a wealthy Jewish girl from the suburbs of New York. Initially, the story follows Neil’s attempt to court Brenda and his feelings of guilt due to the differences in their backgrounds. As the story progresses, the focus shifts towards Neil’s moral and ethical dilemmas as he navigates his desire for a relationship with Brenda and his knowledge of her family’s economic and social privilege in comparison to his own.
Goodbye Columbus offers a thought-provoking insight into the way class can shape a person’s identity and create complex relationships. Here are five essay topics inspired by Goodbye Columbus that could be used to explore these dynamics:
1. In what ways does the story of Goodbye Columbus examine the relationship between class and identity?
2. Compare and contrast the characters of Neil and Brenda in terms of their different economic backgrounds.
3. Analyse the way in which Neil navigates his desire for a relationship with Brenda in the context of their class differences.
4. Discuss the way in which the story of Goodbye Columbus reflects social norms of the time.
5. What role does gender play in the story of Goodbye Columbus?