Marxist Reading of John Updike’s Novel Rabbit is Rich
Date
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of English
Abstract
Unequal distribution of property creates class division inRabbit Is Richwhere
capitalists practice excessive power owning enough property. Due to the excessive
use of power and freedom, capitalists are morally as well as spiritually corrupted.
Their economic success brings alienation, disorder, division, sexual perversion and
disintegration of the familial and social ties. John Updike's Rabbit Is Rich textualizes
the alienation, frustration and disintegration of the capitalists by its monumental
'everyman' Harry. His involvement in worldly pleasures and excess of materiality
becomes the root cause of disintegration. Updike presents each and every character
involved in worldly pleasures. Their sexual obsession brings disintegration in modern
American life resulting the failure of capitalistic society. Through it, he shows a need
of harmonious society without division establishing spirituality, love and sympathy
between individuals.