21. Philip Roth, The Human Stain (cont.)

The lecture focuses on the second half of Philip Roth's "The Human Stain," exploring the themes of secrecy, desire, and narrative. It analyzes how desire is linked to discrepancy and lack, and how Nathan's first-person narration influences the story. The lecture examines the character of Ernestine Silk and the use of stereotypes in the novel. It delves into the homoerotic undertones between Nathan and Coleman, referencing Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice," and discusses how Nathan's imaginative involvement leads him to inhabit the roles of other characters. The lecture concludes by discussing the constructed nature of the narrative and Roth's complex relationship between fiction and life, positioning Roth as a significant writer who explores the relationship between the writer and their work.