Portnoy's Complaint by Philp Roth

Some thoughts I have about Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth

Even after reading the first few chapters to myself in Roth’s book, I immediately thought of Woody Allen. Roth’s crude sense of humor, yet ingenious storyline really intertwined with the comedic figure. I can only imagine what would happen if the two of these witty writers wrote a story together. Great minds may think alike, but so do vulgar ones (i.e. Roth and Allen).
Some may call Roth’s book “pornish” high literature. However, it is still in good taste and studied intently because of how it is presented. Really it is an example of people being honest and showing their vulnerable complexities. Many authors even put themselves in the story. So maybe Roth is really divulging the truth of who he is.

Woody Allen’s movie Play It Again Sam is a film that could be tied to Roth’s book as well. The movie is based on a play that was written by Woody Allen himself. Woody constructed a character that was clearly insecure. So much so that it seemed like he had some sort of a communication disorder when in fact he was just nervous around attractive women. In Portnoy’s Complaint we see Alex (the main character) as a boy suffering from the Oedipus complex and who has a mother that is domineering in most every aspect of his life. I believe that is the reason why Alex has so many problems with women later in life. This leads me to think maybe this is why Woody character in Play It Again Sam, Allan, might have so many problems with woman and is so socially awkward around them. Allan has to escape through his alter ego Bogart (from the movie Casablanca) in order to feel like he is really to find his future mate.

It is so interesting to me how a book and a film that are not at all related have so much in common but really that is the beauty of deconstructing literature and film.

Play it Again Sam:


Here is a short interview with Philp Roth from TheDailyBeast.com's Web Series. Roth tells reporter Tina Brown that the novel "was a big marker...I don't have any regrets about writing or publishing it."