Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2000. [Vol. 6.] Eger Journal of American Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 26)

Studies - Tibor Tóth: The Golden Cradle: Philip Roth's Revision of the Golden Bough Tradition

with individual desire and the possibility of invoking Shakespeare and the London scene bring history, Joyce and the perplexed David to the same level. In The Breast David admires Claire's breast and adores it but has no intention to become a breast. Yet, in the manipulated logic of the book misinterpretation of his desire leads to misplacement and finally he becomes a breast. The uneasy quality of the situation is asserted: identification to the degree of metamorphosis into a female breast implies renunciation of, or even denial of, heterosexual desires, and the adoption of the woman partner's role in a homosexual relationship, which David Kepesh certainly does not favour. The result of this abnormal logic is that the breast is examining itself and a unique, extremely complex narrative emerges. It is difficult to define or stabilise this essential element of the fictional material. Even the gender of a mammary gland governed by the male sexual drive is difficult if not impossible to establish. David struggles with similar difficulties, he insists on his male status even when he attains a degree of absolute physical identification with what he earlier interpreted as the symbol of spiritual fertility. This confers to him the sexual potential he so much admired and envied but an intellectual transformation is not possible. Through this incredible transformation he becomes a female breast without losing his masculine desires. The question is whether this 'rebirth' can be interpreted as freedom. Naturally, or unnaturally the problems are further complicated by the embarrassing duality of the situation. The character's metamorphosis creates a sensual female breast governed by his masculine desires, because it is David Kepesh, who is a male, after all. The professor-turned-breast has an extraordinary intellectual task, but this does not refer to his academic research, but to his exasperated attempts to explain his own identity. The nature of the metamorphosis of the professor of comparative literature is impossible to describe. Along with David Kepesh we experience the sense of deconstruction of the intellect, but cannot define it except as a status, which displays a typical post-modern lack of stability. His fears and wishes take him down the road of regression till he is subject to transcendence. Alienation from male impotence leads to 118