Rojack is one violent guy. Let's run down the list quickly: He murders his wife, throws a man down a flight of stairs, and hits his father-in-law in the face with an umbrella. And that's not even getting into the wartime experiences that haunt him to this day.
In many ways, An American Dream is an investigation into the motivation behind this violence—an attempt to sort through the method to Rojack's madness. Here's the really disturbing thing, though: Each time Rojack commits violence on people, he walks away feeling more rejuvenated than ever. Like some sort of half-baked vampire, Rojack uses violence to fuel his own life.
Questions About Violence
- Why does Rojack feel rejuvenated after committing violence? Give examples to support your answer.
- In your opinion, why does Rojack attack Shago? Again, turn to the text for back-up.
- Does Rojack's violence ever come back to haunt him? What does this tell you about violence as a theme in this book?
- How do Rojack's experiences in World War II affect his view of violence?
Chew on This
For Rojack, violence is simply a means to release tension, just like sexuality.
Although Rojack is practically addicted to violence, the pleasure he gets is as fleeting as an alcohol buzz.