Is Philip Roth 'against political correctness'? : 'Whiteness' as desired norm and invisible terror in The Human Stain

Title: Is Philip Roth 'against political correctness'? : 'Whiteness' as desired norm and invisible terror in The Human Stain
Author: Barnard, Lianne
Source document: Brno studies in English. 2017, vol. 43, iss. 1, pp. [107]-125
Extent
[107]-125
  • ISSN
    0524-6881 (print)
    1805-0867 (online)
Type: Article
Language
License: Not specified license
 

Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.

Abstract(s)
Many critics state that "political correctness" is a central theme of The Human Stain. This paper first asks if a definition of "political correctness" is possible and compares the use of political correctness" to the phrase "appropriate" in the novel. Then it addresses the persecution of the protagonist for using the word "spooks" and asks if the novel considers condemning stigmatizing language as acceptable censorship and whether the anti-racism crusade is taken here to such an extreme that it turned into a witch hunt. The most important question addressed is how extreme the anti-racist theme of the novel is. When "political correctness" is equated with extreme anti-racism, the novel would be for "political correctness" since Coleman is condemned for racism in supporting abstract liberalism; using "white" racist language and believing the unconscious master signifier "Whiteness" promises wholeness. Since "White" terror is not acknowledged by the white public, racism continues.
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