The Plot Against America

Philip Roth—who is also the Jewish author of the book—narrates the events of The Plot Against America as an adult. He is a child during the events of the book, living with his family in Newark. When the novel opens, he idolizes his brother Sandy, collects stamps, has a good relationship with his parents, and has no problems other than the typical dramas of youth. When his cousin, Alvin, returns—now missing a leg—Philip’s life becomes filled with uneasiness. This is compounded by Sandy’s inclusion in the Just Folks programs, and the tension this creates with his family. Philip’s actions do not always make sense, even to himself. His mother will call him a strange child after finding him in Seldon’s clothes. 

As with many children, Philip’s lack of perspective often leads him to imagine worst-case scenarios for trivial situations. He reacts irrationally, sometimes planning to run away instead of dealing with his relatively minor problems. By the end of the novel, he has a more mature worldview, despite still being a child. He has learned that his father is capable of violence, his mother is a “fellow creature” (339), and has begun to think about concepts such as having a