Roth's Contribution to the Narrativization of Illness

Abstract

In her article Contribution to the Narrativization of Illness Miriam Jaffe-Foger argues that Philipp Roth's fiction represents him as an empath, a writer who prescribes for modern medicine a dose of humanity in listening to the pain of others. Using Roth's The Anatomy Lesson, The Dying Animal, and Exit Ghost as primary source material in combination with theories from medical anthropology, Jaffe-Foger suggests that Roth is an inspiration for the field of narrative medicine. JaffeFoger examines the art in organizing narratives to tell these stories. Jaffe-Foger also argues against misogynist views of Roth as he represents woman's bodies, offering a modern reading of the relationship between illness and sexuality. Miriam Jaffe-Foger, Contribution to the Narrativization of Illnesspage 2 of 9 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 16.2 (2014): Thematic Issue History, Memory, and the Making of Character in Roth's Fiction. Ed. Gustavo Sanchez-Canales and Victoria Aarons