In almost every genre of literature there is the classic antagonist, and the classic
protagonist. When examining these characters, there are certain guidelines which authors
follow. However, there are times in literature when the classic guidelines are broken, and
a new prototype emerges. Contemporary writer Norman Mailer broke the mold of the classic
character(s) when writing the novel, An American Dream. In An American Dream,
there is no set protagonist or antagonist. In fact, Mailer has taken these two separate
identities and merged them into one character. The product is the main character of the
novel, Steven Rojack. Throughout the novel the reader isn't sure if they want him to
succeed, or fail. This is due to Rojack's ever-changing personality. He first seems like
the perfect man, a decorated war hero who knows all the right people. However, shortly
after this impression is made another is formed. He murders his wife in cold blood and
lies to the police, claiming she committed suicide. As the novel continues however, Rojack
realizes the horror of his crime and even confesses what he has done to a woman he loves.
Due to the realization of his crime, he is redeemed in the eye of the reader. From this
point on, the reader wants Rojack to succeed. However, before final judgement can be
passed, it is imperative that Rojack's entire character be explored.
Steven Rojack is first introduced as a prominent man in society who becomes recognized
due to his decoration in military service. Through this service he became close with many
famous politicians, Jack Kennedy being one. It is through Jack that Rojack meets his first
wife, Deborah, a woman who he describes "would be bored with a diamond as big as the
Ritz" (1) After serving a term in Congress, he and Deborah marry. Unfortunately, the
relationship they have is one in which Deborah has full control. As he continues to
describe the relationship with his wife it is often filled with bitter memories. He
remembers going to parties where she would compare his worth to that of another man's. It
is from this that a bitter hatred stems towards Deborah. Finally, after seven years of
marriage, they separate. However, after the separation, Deborah's needs are still covered
by Steven, who is now a college professor and the host of a popular TV show. In addition
to this Deborah maintains a close contact with him, seeing him whenever she desires. She
relishes the thought of having control over him, and he realizes this. It is because of
this that Rojack feels the way he does about her.
So I hated her, yes indeed I did, but my hatred was a cage which wired my love, and I
did not know if I had the force to find my way free. Marriage to her was the armature of
my ego; remove the armature and I might topple like clay. (23)
At this point in the novel Rojack comes across as an egocentric man with the potential
to have an extreme temper. Many times throughout the beginning of the novel, the reader
may questions his sanity due to the fact that he often thinks about many morbid issues. As
a result of this it can be said that Rojack is in conflict with himself. Furthermore,
because of this, problems arise with others. Therefore it can be said that he is his own
antagonist. After leaving a party that was held at his close friend's house, Rojack once
again feels alone and bitter. While standing outside on the balcony he contemplates what
would happen if he were to jump. Shortly after this he decides to leave. As he walks home
in the pouring rain he stops at a pay phone feeling the need to call Deborah. During their
conversation, Deborah insists that Steven come over. Although his better judgement tells
him not to go, he goes anyway. As he enters Deborah's room, he can see her lying on her
bed with a bottle of rum close by. The moment she sees him enter she begins to insult him.
As the conversation continues, Steven becomes more and more bold in responding to
Deborah's insults. The tension begins to escalate, thus flaring both of their tempers.
Suddenly, Rojack slaps Deborah across the face. In turn, Deborah rises from the bed and
charges Steven, plunging her head into his abdomen. As the fight continues, Steven finally
gets the upper hand and Deborah surrenders. However, as he removes his hand from her head,
her body falls on the ground; she is dead. "I knelt to turn her over. Her body made
some rustling sound of protest, a muted whisper. She was bad in death. A beast stared back
at me. Her teeth showed, the point of light in her eye was violent, and her mouth was
open." (44)
It is at this moment that Rojack becomes a despicable, cold-blooded murderer.
Immediately after the murder he begins to question whether or not he is truly evil. Unable
to come up with an answer at the time, he slips downstairs where he makes love to his
wife's German butler, a woman named Ruta. Shortly after this escapade, Steven explains to
Ruta that Deborah committed suicide by jumping out the window. When the police arrive to
take a look at the scene, he tells them the same. He explains to the police that Deborah
had a fascination with death, and that she often spoke of it. Furthermore, he also said
that Deborah had convinced herself that she had a rare form of cancer. When the police
wrap up their interrogation of Rojack, they go outside to examine the body. As Rojack
approaches, he notices a tall, blonde woman out of the corner of his eye. He feels drawn
to her classic, small town girl appearance. As he strikes up a conversation with her,
Police Chief Roberts informs him to get in the squad car because he needs to identify the
body at the morgue. On the way he talks with the police officers. During this conversation
it is apparent that the cops are fully aware that this wasn't a suicide. However, they
will not press charges until they feel the need because they like him. A few minutes later
they arrive at the morgue. Walking in to the morgue, Rojack feels a sense of disgust over
what he did. Seeing Deborah's body he realizes that no matter how badly things were
between them, she never deserved to die. Whatever Deborah would deserve, that morgue was
not the place for her. "I had a reverie of my own death then, and my soul was trying
to lift and loose itself of the body which has died. I felt guilty for the first time. It
was a crime to have pushed Deborah to the morgue." (77) At this point Rojack
begins to make the transition between evil and good. He finally realized the heinous
nature of his crime, and because of this realization he can be redeemed in the eye of the
reader.
Shortly after the police interrogation ends, Rojack again comes in contact with the
tall blonde. He learns that her name is Cherry and that she is a singer in a small cabaret
downtown. After being released by the police, he decides to go downtown to see her
perform. He is drawn to her for unknown reasons, and this confuses him. He hasn't felt
this strongly for a woman since the time he first met Deborah. Walking into the cabaret he
hears Cherry's voice. When the set is finished, Cherry comes over and begins to talk with
him. A few moments later they begin to kiss. Cherry then invites Rojack to her apartment.
Once they arrive at the apartment they begin to talk about their past lives. Although a
relationship is forming, a strong friendship is also in the making. Rojack stays the
night, and leaves early the next morning after receiving a message that Deborah's father
is in town and that he wants to meet with Rojack. When Rojack returns to his house, he
begins to make phone calls to old friends inquiring why Oswald Kelly, Deborah's father,
wants to meet with him. It is during one of these conversations that Rojack learns that
Deborah was involved in high profile cases of espionage. Not knowing whether to rejoice or
to cringe in fear, he decides to keep this secret to himself.
Later on that day, Rojack returns back to Cherry's apartment, and once again they begin
to talk about their past. He realizes that when he is with Cherry, he feels safe. Because
of this feeling he tells the truth when confronted about the crime. "Steve?"
asked Cherry. "Did you kill your wife?" He calmly responded, "yes."
(168) After talking, Cherry tells Rojack that she loves him, and that everything will be
ok. With this, Rojack leaves to meet Oswald Kelly. In the cab many fears come into
Rojack's head. He is fully aware of the powerful connections that Oswald Kelly has with
the Mafia. Finally, he reaches the hotel and Kelly's room. Walking in, he has the
opportunity to speak with his stepdaughter whom he has not seen in months. However, this
conversation only lasts a few minutes, because he knows that he must face Kelly. When
Kelly first sees Rojack; he greets him with a warm hug. He starts to speak of Deborah and
of her involvement with foreign spies. He also tells Rojack that he ordered to police to
stop the investigation. After a while however, the conversation begins to get to its
point. As the two walk out to the balcony Rojack is hit with the question of his
involvement in Deborah's death. Unable to lie, he admits the truth. As a result of this,
Kelly informs him that he will not turn him in. However, Kelly states that in order to
survive he must walk around the edges of the hotel from the last floor. If he survives
this, he will be able to walk away. It is at this moment that Rojack makes the transition
into the protagonist.
As Rojack carefully steps on the edge of the balcony, he realizes the importance of
every step. While walking he begins to think about everything he is done. Finally, he
arrives at his destination, but he doesn't stop. Instead, he attempts to walk around the
perimeter of the building once again to redeem himself. However, Kelly attempts to push
him down, but fails. After a brief struggle, Rojack walks out of the hotel unharmed, and
redeemed. In conclusion, Steven Rojack is a very complex character who underwent a
transition from being his own antagonist to being a protagonist. He was able to commit the
perfect crime, and still earn forgiveness. It is easy to say that Steven Rojack is the
true poster-boy for "an American dream."
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