Ham on Rye

Henry obsesses over sex, much like his classmates. How does his lack of success with women speak to his struggles with social interactions? What does this say about his character and role in society?

In what ways does Henry’s relationship with alcohol influence the course of his life? What does this say about the oppression of the working class?

To what extent does Ham on Rye rely on traditional notions of heroes and villains in terms of the novel’s narrative structure?

Henry experiences social alienation. What creates this sense of alienation in him from a young age? Does society affect this?

In what ways does the novel explore the social consequences of the Great Depression in American society? How does the novel explore its era, with Henry being an example of it?

Why does fighting have such an importance in Henry’s worldview? What does this say about the role of violence in the working class?

How does the novel portray Henry’s existence as the product of generations of abuse and trauma? How does his family inform his existence?

In what ways do Henry’s impressions of his mother evolve over the course of the novel? What does this have to do with how he views women throughout the work?