An American Dream Mortality Quotes

If Rojack were a superhero, this would be his origin story. This experience shapes the man he becomes and the crimes he will eventually commit. Keep an eye on the moon, by the way: It figures into Rojack's relationship with death quite a bit. We have more to say about it over in the "Symbolism" section and on Rojack's page in the "Characters" section.

Although Rojack isn't very religious, he has a powerful spiritual experience as he watches a man die. Later, he has similar feelings when he imagines Deborah's green eyes haunting him from beyond the grave. Rojack has gotten a glimpse of whatever it is that lies beyond life—and what he sees haunts him.

In Rojack's eyes, his peers are ignorant of their own mortality. This guy sounds like a real buzz-kill, huh? Throughout the novel, we're shown the contradictions—and the similarities—between sex and death. At this early stage, however, Rojack is too shaken by thoughts of death to even think about creating life.

Once again, Rojack is haunted by the German soldier's eyes. This time, Rojack realizes that death is some sort of tangible thing itself. We're not sure if this guy is certifiably insane or certifiably brilliant, but it's an interesting idea.

When Rojack compares himself to John F. Kennedy, he argues that the only difference between the two men (besides the love and affection of Marilyn Monroe, of course) is the fact that Rojack has experienced death, while old Jackie boy didn't. Rojack can't pretend that he's just like everyone else.

What's up with this? If you ask us, we'd wager that Rojack knows that he hasn't been the best husband to Deborah. Dying at her hands would make up for all of the pain he's put her through—at least in his own twisted brain.

Twist it however you want it, but the fact remains: Deborah is dead. It's actually pretty crazy that Rojack is still grieving this way despite the fact that he killed her—but then again, he's crazy like that.

In this instance, death really is an act of creation because Rojack has created a monster. It's almost as if he's a vampire, forced to consume others to stay alive for another day.

Now that Rojack has murdered someone, his relationship with death has shifted, and he's no longer afraid of it because he has mastered it. Unfortunately for him, it's only a matter of time before that bad boy confidence wears off.

Rojack has reached a point where he thinks that only death will solve his problems. Is this what he means when he says that death is not a zero? Or is he just being the superstitious nut-job he seems to be? Per usual, we're left with more questions than answers.