The Counterlife
In the novel The Counterlife by Philip Roth, the character Henry Zuckerman changes from a respectable dentist and responsible family man in the first chapter to an irresponsible man who abandons his family to become a religious fanatic. Throughout the first chapter, Henry is presented by his wife and children as a man who lives for his family and is willing to under go heart surgery and risk his life in order to preserve his marriage. Only his brother, Nathan, who acknowledges his brother’s true intentions, and believes that Henry’s wife, Carol is trying to uphold the illusion that Henry created in life so she can preserve her husband’s reputation. In the second chapter, Henry has lost all interest in being a husband, father, or even a dentist and selfishly leaves his family to escape his existence. No one is able to understand the personality transformation Henry undergoes after his surgery so Nathan tries to discover what brought about this change. Henry, who was once considered a responsible family man, becomes someone who is selfish and unwilling to take responsibility for his actions Throughout the first chapter, Henry is presented as the reputable dentist in his community and dependable, loving husband and fat
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Approximate Word count = 1220
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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