Nemesis by Philip Roth

 

Nemesis      by Philip Roth

Summary

Nemesis, published in 2010, chronicles the impact of the 1944 polio epidemic on a middle-class Jewish community in Newark, New Jersey. The protagonist, 23-year-old Bucky Cantor, is ineligible to serve in the war and instead works as the neighborhood's playground director. Throughout the summer, Bucky witnesses the disease's devastating effects and attempts to cope with senseless tragedy. Throughout Nemesis, Roth explores themes of economic privilege, masculinity, mortality, and survivor's guilt.

In an interview with the NPR show Fresh Air, Roth explained that he never before saw polio as a subject for his writing. However, when he remembered how frightening and deadly the disease was, he found it important to convey the difficult emotions associated with this time in American history. According to Roth, writing Nemesis "became an exercise in recovering [my] own memories of childhood, when both the polio epidemic and World War II were in full swing."

Nemesis received lukewarm reviews upon its release. Though the novel is not the author's most celebrated work, Nicholas Lezard of The Guardian writes, "Roth's ear has never been better, and there is an almost unbelievable mastery of technique in the way that the prose slips between narrative and speech." In 2011, the book was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. In April 2020, Richard Brody of the New Yorker wrote an article addressing the "eerie familiarities" of Nemesis in the global COVID-19 crisis.

 

Bucky Cantor is an enthusiastic 23-year-old playground director at the Chancellor Avenue School in Weequahic, Newark, New Jersey. Despite his small frame, Bucky is an accomplished athlete. He is a competitive javelin thrower, weightlifter, and diver. The story begins in 1944, during World War II. At this time, all of Bucky's friends and peers are enlisted and fighting abroad. Bucky's poor eyesight has disqualified him from serving, and he is racked with guilt for missing out on this formative nationwide experience. This event exacerbates Bucky's insecurities about his masculinity.

Bucky sees the playground as his battlefield, and he is keen to command it like a soldier. In the summertime, there is a polio outbreak that particularly affects Weequahic. Many of Bucky's students are afflicted, and the results are devastating. Day after day, more students become paralyzed and die. Bucky, who has been raised as an observant Jew, begins to question his faith. The events seem senseless, and he is deeply impacted by the children's suffering.

Bucky's early life was ridden with tragedy. After his mother died in childbirth, his father was imprisoned and then abandoned his family. Consequently, Bucky was raised by his grandparents. Bucky's grandfather was particularly tough, and he wanted to ensure his grandson's emotional and physical strength. We learn that Bucky's grandfather has passed away three years prior to the beginning of the story, and Bucky is now the primary caregiver for his grandmother.

Bucky is happy about his relationship with Marcia, a fellow teacher who is spending her summer working as a camp counselor in the Poconos. Marcia calls Bucky frequently, worrying that he will contract polio if he remains in Newark. Bucky initially refuses Marcia's offer. One day, however, after visiting Marcia's father, he decides that he wants to propose to his girlfriend. He leaves Newark for Indian Hill Summer Camp to inform Marcia of the good news and spend the rest of the summer with his new fiancée.

Indian Hill strikes Bucky as utopian. However, Bucky is unable to fully enjoy the camp because he feels so guilty for abandoning the playground children. He vacillates between returning to Newark or remaining at Indian Hill, ultimately settling on the latter. Polio, however, knows no boundaries. A few weeks after his arrival, one of Bucky's best friends and co-counselors contracts polio. Bucky's guilt magnifies, as he is convinced that he is the carrier that has brought polio from Newark to Indian Hill.

Within 48 hours, life changes drastically. Summer camp ends prematurely, and Bucky goes to the hospital to check if he could possibly be a polio carrier. Although he has not previously had any symptoms, Bucky tests positive for polio. He is soon afflicted with all of the debilitating symptoms, and he is partially paralyzed. He remains in a brace or wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Nearly 25 years later, a former playground student named Arnie Mesnikoff encounters Bucky on the street. Like Bucky, Arnie contracted polio and survived. He also wears leg braces and struggles with mobility. The two begin to have weekly lunches together, where Bucky divulges the events of the past quarter century. Arnie is revealed to be the narrator of Nemesis.

Arnie learns that following Bucky's diagnosis, he became depressed and saw his life as irrecoverable. He remains convinced that he carried polio to the playground children and to Indian Hill campers, and he continues to feel immensely guilty. Additionally, he asked Marcia to leave him to "protect her" from having a crippled husband. He never dated or remarried, and he remains heartbroken and alone. Arnie tries to cheer Bucky up, but he realizes that he has spent the last decades ashamed of himself and his condition. The story ends when Arnie reminisces about his school days. He recalls the community's admiration of Bucky Cantor. He prefers to remember this version of Bucky, the strong javelin thrower and hero.

Nemesis Character List

Eugene "Bucky" Cantor

Bucky Cantor is an enthusiastic 23-year-old playground director at the Chancellor Avenue School. Bucky is Jewish, and he lives and works in the middle-class Jewish neighborhood of Weequahic in Newark, New Jersey. Despite his small frame, Bucky is an accomplished athlete. He is a competitive javelin thrower, weightlifter, and diver. Bucky has poor eyesight, and as a result of his condition, he is not allowed to serve in World War II. This experience makes Bucky feel isolated, since all of his friends and peers are soldiers.

Bucky's early life was ridden with tragedy. After his mother died in childbirth, his father was imprisoned and then abandoned his family. Consequently, Bucky was raised by his grandparents. Bucky's grandfather, Sam Cantor, owned a neighborhood grocery store and was particularly tough on his grandson. He taught Bucky to overcome adversity and embody emotional and physical strength. Bucky's grandfather passed away three years prior to the beginning of the story, and Bucky is now the primary caretaker for his grandmother. They live together in a walk-up in Weequahic.

Sam Cantor

Sam Cantor was Bucky's grandfather. He and his wife, Bucky's grandmother, raised Bucky after their daughter passed away in childbirth and their son-in-law abandoned the family. Sam Cantor owned a neighborhood grocery store throughout his life. He was an observant Jew, and he often explained his encounters with antisemitism to Bucky as an affirmation of his faith. Sam Cantor once told Bucky that "a man’s every endeavor [is] imbued with responsibility." This aphorism steers Bucky through many decisions and actions throughout his life.

Marcia Steinberg

Marcia Steinberg is Bucky's girlfriend, and later his fiancée. She is a teacher at the Chancellor Avenue School, and she spends the summer of 1944 in the Poconos working at Indian Hill Camp. Marcia comes from an upper-middle-class family, and she has more socioeconomic mobility than Bucky. Bucky admires her background and finds comfort in her family's love and warmth.

Throughout the novel, Marcia tries to convince Bucky to leave Chancellor and join her at Indian Hill for the summer. When he eventually does, the visit is unpleasant because Bucky feels guilty about abandoning his students. Although Marcia vows to love Bucky throughout her life, things change when Bucky contracts polio. While Marcia's commitment remains steadfast, Bucky does not want for her to live life with a "crippled husband." The two lose contact and never see each other again.

Bucky's grandmother

Bucky maintains a very close relationship with his grandmother throughout his life. After he was left orphaned, Bucky's grandmother raised him. Following the death of Bucky's grandfather, he assumes the role of caregiver for his grandmother. Later, when Bucky contracts polio and goes to a rehabilitation facility in Philadelphia, his grandmother is the only person who he allows to see his crippled body. The death of Bucky's grandmother causes his loneliness and depression to intensify, since she was one of the only people with whom he allowed himself to be vulnerable.

Arnie Mesnikoff

Arnie Mesnikoff is the narrator of Nemesis, though his identity remains largely unknown until the end of the book. Arnie reveals that he contracted polio while he was a student on Bucky's playground in 1944. Over 25 years later, he reunites with Bucky and listens to his life's story. Arnie remains partially paralyzed due to the disease, and he creates a career for himself by architecturally redesigning homes for the physically handicapped. He comes to terms with his disabilities and later takes pride in his successful professional and personal life.

Dr. Steinberg

Dr. Steinberg is Marcia's father. He is a medical doctor by profession and a warm and understanding man. Following the death of Bucky's grandfather, Bucky sees Dr. Steinberg as more than a prospective father-in-law. Rather, he is an important male figure in Bucky's young adult life. Dr. Steinberg informs Bucky about the effects of polio and reassures him that he is doing the right thing amidst the health crisis. In this way, Dr. Steinberg quells the guilt and anxiety Bucky feels while working as the playground director. Dr. Steinberg reaffirms Bucky's desire to marry Marcia and build a healthy family of his own someday. When Bucky is in the polio rehabilitation center in Philadelphia, Dr. Steinberg expresses his disapproval of how Bucky has abandoned Marcia. This embarrasses Bucky, and he never gets over his shame.

Horace

Horace is a mentally and physically disabled middle-aged man. He lives in Weequahic, and his parents often let him aimlessly roam the neighborhood. His physical appearance is shocking, and he is dubbed the "neighborhood moron." His face is eerily contorted, his feet drag beneath him, and he has a “sour smell” that is instantly recognizable. Additionally, Horace can get agitated by specific sounds and behaviors. He is mocked by some of the playground boys, specifically the Kopferman brothers. Later in the story, Horace is ostracized for "carrying polio" due to his unsanitary personal hygiene.

Alan Michaels

Alan Michaels is Bucky's star pupil on the playground. He dies just three days after contracting polio, which deeply impacts Bucky and the rest of the Weequahic community. Bucky visits the home of Alan Michaels to pay his respects to the family. He listens intently as Mr. Michaels praises Alan, and Bucky is deeply affected by the family’s overwhelming grief. He later attends Alan's funeral and burial.

Myron and Danny Kopferman

Myron and Danny Kopferman are mischievous brothers. They routinely mock and tease Horace, which causes numerous problems on the playground. In the novel, Bucky recalls one particularly cruel occasion in which Danny fired a toy weapon into the air in order to agitate Horace. Bucky reminisces about how he confiscated the weapon and sent Danny home with a letter explaining the day’s incidents. Both of the Kopferman brothers later contract polio.

Yushy

Yushy is the counterman at the neighborhood hotdog stand. His business comes to a standstill following the death of Alan Michaels. Because Alan ate there before contracting polio, the Weequahic community is skeptical of the establishment's hygienic practices. Yushy believes that the Italians brought polio to the Jewish neighborhood. Yushy is also confident that the playground is the epicenter of the disease, since nearly all cases are tied to the location. Yushy breaks the news to Bucky that another one of his students, Herbie Steinmark, passed away from the disease.

Herbie Steinmark

Herbie Steinmark is another one of Bucky's students who contracts polio. After a brief battle with the illness, he passes away due to respiratory complications. Bucky remembers Herbie for his innocence, clumsiness, and unathletic nature.

Mrs. Kopferman

Mrs. Kopferman is the mother of Myron and Danny. After Bucky hears the news of the boys' illness, he calls Mrs. Kopferman to express his concern and send well-wishes. To Bucky’s surprise, Mrs. Kopferman lashes out and blames Bucky for exposing her children to illness-inducing conditions. The phone call deeply affects Bucky, and he feels an immense sense of guilt. He worries about endangering the lives of the children that he cares for, but he also recognizes the essential need for children to have a recreational release.

Kenny Blumenfield

Kenny Blumenfield is another one of Bucky's students. He is deeply affected by losing his classmates to polio, and he fears that another one of his friends could quickly fall victim to the disease. One day, Kenny violently lashes out at Horace and tries to forcefully remove him from the playground. Kenny is hysterical and revolted by the excrement on Horace’s hands and clothing. Kenny proclaims that Horace’s poor personal hygiene is the cause of polio. He treats Horace like a “rabid dog,” which causes Horace to wail and grow increasingly defiant.

Jake and Dave

Jake and Dave are Bucky's best friends from college. They competed in javelin together, and both Jake and Dave are in Europe fighting during WWII. While Bucky is working at Indian Hill Camp, Bucky learns that Jake has been killed in battle in France. Later, when Bucky meets with Arnie, he reveals that he lost contact with Dave.

Mr. Blomback

Mr. Blomback is the owner and director of Indian Hill camp. He is passionate about Native American tradition, and he incorporates his learnings into the camp's ritualistic practices.

Donald Kaplow

Donald Kaplow is Bucky's best friend at Indian Hill camp. At just seventeen years old, Donald looks up to Bucky as an older athletic mentor. Donald contracts a severe case of polio while at Indian Hill, and Bucky is deeply scarred by his illness. Bucky remains convinced that he carried polio from Newark to Indian Hill, and he feels responsible for Donald's illness.

Dr. Huntley

Dr. Huntley is the medical director at Indian Hill. He urges Bucky to get a spinal tap and test for polio. The results come back positive, and Bucky's life is forever altered.

Phyllis and Sheila Steinberg

Phyllis and Sheila Steinberg are Marcia's younger sisters. They are twins, and Sheila later contracts a mild case of polio. Bucky feels responsible for Sheila's illness, which is part of the reason he feels too ashamed to resume a relationship with Marcia

Nemesis Themes

The Senselessness of Disease

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. In 1944, Weequahic experiences an intense surge in severe cases. Older members of the community recall the slew of diseases that have plagued Weequahic in prior decades, but polio's devastation seems unmatched. Bucky is especially affected by the effects the virus has on the youngest, most vulnerable members of the community. When Weequahic is hit hardest, the citizens want answers. What causes polio? Are there preventable measures to be taken? Is there a cure? These unanswered questions, coupled with the intense destruction caused by the virus, lead to heightened feelings of paranoia and doubt. Weequahic's hostility compounds Bucky's own anxieties, and these feelings later manifest into self-loathing and depression.

Personal Responsibility

Bucky's general feeling of helplessness causes him to blur the line between what is outside his realm of control and what is not. For example, Bucky obsesses over the fact that he cannot complete his military service. He wastes his energy worrying about his poor eyesight, and he fails to realize that his own medical condition is outside his realm of control. Later, Bucky transforms his anxieties about the virus into something within his responsibility. He begins to see himself as a carrier, and he unfairly feels responsible for destroying his community. Most importantly, Bucky fails to grasp the only thing he can control—his emotional wellbeing. By assuming personal responsibility for the tragedies in his life, Bucky feels unworthy of love and affection. Ultimately, Bucky's skewed sense of personal responsibility facilitates his demise.

Questioning One's Faith

Bucky is raised in an observant Jewish household. In addition, Weequahic is an insular Jewish neighborhood: Ashkenazi Jewish culture defines the community's practices and customs. Ethnic conflict is at the center of the story; after the Italians spit on Bucky's playground, the students begin to contract polio. Although there is no scientifically provable correlation between the two events, the Jewish community feels antagonized by the Italians.

The rise of antisemitism during World War II also causes the citizens of Weequahic to feel prone to attack. Because polio hits Weequahic the hardest out of all the other ethnic neighborhoods in Newark, many citizens think the disease intended to wipe out their population. All of these factors prompt Bucky to question his relationship to Judaism.

As Bucky navigates the tragedies of the polio pandemic, he fails to understand why God would ever allow for so many children to senselessly die. Later, Bucky grows angry at God for his mother's premature death. Bucky's resentment towards God reiterates the motif of scapegoating. As the citizens of Weequahic are forced to deal with the hopelessness of their reality, they blame various forces for their misfortune.

The Innocence of Childhood

Childhood is often associated with innocence and simplicity. However, the relationship between youth and purity is turned on its head during the polio epidemic of 1944. Instead of being carefree and unbothered, the children in Weequahic are anxious and hysterical. Those who do not contract polio are emotionally traumatized as they are left to grieve for their classmates, peers, and friends.

Although the playground is believed to be the "epicenter" of polio within the community, the act of playing allows for children to distract themselves from their harsh reality. On the playground, the children are able to activate their imaginations and convene with their friends. For this reason, Bucky takes his job very seriously. As the playground director, Bucky feels responsible for preserving the illusion of the children's innocence.

The Politics of Crisis

Throughout history, crises often yield upsurges in nationalism. During times of adversity and uncertainty, people often look to their local and national communities for comfort and encouragement. In 1944, the community of Weequahic must cope with the effects of two global tragedies—World War II and polio. The community responds by exercising their patriotism, and this rise of nationalism is evident throughout Nemesis.

Firstly, it is important to understand patriotism as it pertains to Weequahic. Firstly, the young adults in Weequahic are the children and grandchildren of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Fighting in the war allows them to exercise their American identity. Additionally, fighting for the United States—against Hitler—provides them with the feeling that they are simultaneously defending their Jewish identities.

While at Indian Hill, Bucky sees how American nationalism is being exercised by the youngest campers. The summer camp is steeped in "Americana," and Mr. Blomback uses Native American rituals to create a "campy" theme. During "Indian Night," which takes place during one evening each week, Mr. Blomback dresses up as a Native American chief and reads the campers the latest news headlines. Bucky is shocked as the campers offer commentary about the U.S. winning WWII and FDR being re-elected as president.

Environmental Injustice

The first chapter of Nemesis is entitled "Equatorial Network." Throughout the story, Roth emphasizes the city's oppressive heat and wetland-ringed geography. The humid air is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and the insects are known to carry diseases. Newark's susceptibility to disease introduces the novel's theme of environmental injustice. Throughout history—and still today—low-income communities are particularly susceptible to environmentally-related diseases due to the location of their neighborhoods.

When Bucky visits Indian Hill, he is struck by the campground's natural beauty. He juxtaposes the clean air with Newark's ruggedness, and he immediately feels at ease. However, Bucky comments that attending summer camp is not a realistic summer alternative for Weequahic children. Bucky is brought to the camp through his fiancée Marcia, who comes from an upper-middle-class background. Although Indian Hill is not immune to polio following Bucky's arrival, the environment provides an escape from the atrocities of the present day.

Aging and the Passage of Time

In the final decade of his life, author Philip Roth published four books. This collection of writing is often classified as the "Nemeses" novels and includes Everyman (2006), Indignation (2008), The Humbling (2009), and Nemesis (2010). Throughout his career, Roth was notably recognized for blurring the line between reality and fiction, autobiography and fantasy. It is understandable that Roth's later works thus center around the themes of mortality and aging.

When Arnie catches up with Bucky, he learns how Bucky's psychological state has worsened as he has gotten older. Now in the latter part of his life, Bucky is haunted by the memories of his past and questions life's meaning. Although time has passed, Bucky's wounds have only grown deeper.

In his final years, author Philip Roth expressed pessimism about society's future. Nemesis could be understood as a sort of foretelling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bucky's experience with polio strangely mirrors how vulnerable communities were particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nemesis Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Alan's Fish (Symbol)

When Alan Michaels dies from polio, Bucky visits his home in order to pay the family his respects. While there, Mr. Michaels shares his fond memories of Alan and comments on his son's gentle nature. Mr. Michaels explains Alan's affinity for tropical fish. According to Alan's father, the young boy was quite knowledgeable about different species and loved to share his learnings with others. After Alan's death, his father remarks about feeding and caring for the fish he left behind. Alan's pet fish is a reminder of his tender character. Although Alan has passed away unexpectedly, he lives on through his aquatic companions.

The Perfect Peach (Symbol)

After Bucky has been chastised by Mrs. Kopferman, he is confused and guilty about his role in the polio epidemic. He realizes that he doesn't know that much about the disease or its effects, and he desires to learn more from a medical expert. Bucky visits Dr. Steinberg, Marcia's father. While at the Steinbergs' home, Bucky is comforted by the doctor's advice. He reassures Bucky that he is doing the right thing by maintaining the playground, and Bucky becomes less anxious and guilty about his choices. While sitting on the porch, Bucky bites into a sweet, "perfect peach." In Chinese mythology, peaches symbolize longevity and immortality. In this context, Bucky's fears about death and disease are eased by his consumption of the fruit. Upon tasting the peach, Bucky feels immediately comforted. This positive feeling prompts him to ask for Marcia's hand in marriage and become a member of the warm and friendly Steinberg family.

Darkness (Motif)

The motif of darkness appears throughout the story. When Bucky visits the home of Alan Michaels, he notices that the shades are drawn and dark drapes are pulled across all of the windows. In this example, darkness represents the sadness that the family feels as they grieve for their dead child. Later in the novel, the motif of darkness recurs during Bucky's experience at Indian Hill camp. Bucky and Marcia can only meet in the darkness of night. During their rendezvous, the couple has small arguments that prevent them from fully understanding one another and their respective anxieties. Later, a darkness settles over the camp and causes Bucky to feel unresolved. In this instance, the darkness foreshadows that the "utopia" of Indian Hill is coming to an end.

Heat (Motif)

The summer of 1944 is notable for its oppressive heat. Bucky discusses the heat as if it is a character in the novel; it has an overwhelming presence that drives people's actions and causes the citizens of Weequahic to feel desperate and uncomfortable. Much like polio itself, the heat is inescapable and oppressive. The temperature causes the air to grow thick, and it is often personified as "carrying" and "spreading" the disease. In the bible, heat is associated with hell and the devil. Roth creates a cruel physical environment in order to convey that Weequahic during the summer of 1944 was Hell on Earth.

Butterflies (Symbol)

One afternoon, a huge swarm of butterflies settles over Indian Hill. For an hour during the middle of the afternoon, the butterflies "could be seen erratically dipping and darting over the playing fields and thickly perched on the tape of the tennis nets." The butterflies are an anomaly, and no one is able to explain the conditions that led to their arrival. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the butterflies symbolize radical change. While Indian Hill is depicted as paradisiacal, it is not immune to the pandemic that rocks the rest of the country. Soon after the butterflies arrive, Donald contracts a severe case of polio. Indian Hill camp is no longer an elite escape from the disease; instead, it is a new epicenter.

Nemesis Metaphors and Similes

The Germ of Fear (Metaphor)

While taking a walk in town, Bucky runs into a mother of one of his students. She is anxious about polio, and she worries that her son will contract it at the playground. Bucky reassures the mother and explains that it is most important to "not infect the children with the germ of fear." This metaphor summarizes Bucky's opinions on the epidemic. Bucky believes his role is to bring strength to the playground and to his community. Like his grandfather taught him, Bucky is unwavering in the face of adversity.

A Hand Grenade (Simile)

During the funeral of Alan Michaels, Bucky imagines that his casket will "ignite and explode, as though a hand grenade had gone off inside." Bucky is overwhelmed by the death of his favorite student, and he struggles to cope with the senselessness of his untimely passing. During the funeral, Bucky's emotional overload is further compounded by the oppressive summer heat. Bucky feels as though his reality has turned into a nightmare. His fantasy of Alan's body exploding reveals to the reader that the protagonist has lost his grip on reality.

Students as Animals (Simile)

When Bucky hears that the Kopferman boys have contracted polio, he calls their mother to express his concern. However, she reacts in a way that Bucky does not expect. She blames Bucky for being an irresponsible playground director and says that he lets his students "run around like animals." Mrs. Kopferman compares the students to animals in order to insult Bucky's leadership skills. She insinuates that he lets his students behave inhumanely, which causes the spread of polio.

Rabid Dog (Simile)

One afternoon, Kenny Blumenfield has a hysterical fit on the playground. He fears that Horace, a disabled man in the community, is a polio carrier due to his poor personal hygiene. During Kenny's breakdown, he waves his mitt violently in the air, "as though warding off the attack of a rabid dog." The comparison of Horace to a rabid dog signifies his dehumanization. Horace is ostracized by the community, and he is not treated with compassion. The community displaces their anxieties onto him, and he becomes a scapegoat for the cause of the pandemic.

A Brick Wall (Metaphor)

While at Indian Hill, Bucky's grandmother calls him to say that his best friend, Jake, has been killed fighting the war in France. In disbelief, Bucky proclaims that Jake was "indestructible. He was a brick wall." Bucky places a great emphasis on physical strength. He views bodybuilding as a form of protection and a guard against vulnerability. Bucky is shocked that his friend, who he revered as a masculine wartime hero, could fall victim to violence.