In An American Dream, Rojack is so obsessed with death that we're pretty sure this is his favorite song. Not that there's anything wrong with that, of course—he had a harrowing experience with death during World War II, and it lingers in the back of his mind. Although he's done pretty well for himself since he came home from the war, he feels haunted by his battle memories and his awareness of his mortality. To be honest, it drives his mad, convincing him of insane beliefs about the moon and how it represents death. While Rojack's reactions are anything but rational, we can learn tons about our own fears of mortality by diving into them.
Questions About Mortality
- What is the symbolism of the German's eyes?
- Is Rojack afraid of death? Explain, using the text to support your answer.
- What is the relationship between death and the moon? What does it tell you about Rojack?
- What is the significance of Cherry and Deborah predicting their own deaths? Does their gender impact your interpretation? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Just as Rojack sees fear of death as the main motivator of humankind, his own experiences with death drive him throughout the novel.
Unlike most of his peers, Rojack has experienced death firsthand, giving him a more realistic—but far more terrifying—view of the world.