Genius Fan

In 1969, American writer Philip Roth published his fourth novel, Portnoy’s Complaint. It’s a tough read for a man who’s almost sixty (that’s me), but for a young man of nineteen (that was me back in 1984) – it was…awesome. It’s a psychiatrist’s chair-account of Alexander Portnoy’s struggle as a Jew in 1960s America, a large part of which is his sexual fantasies and obsessions. I mention this because I’m re-reading the book (actually, I’m listening to it) and inevitably a comparison with James Boswell springs to mind (don’t non-scholars always reflect on Bozzy’s sexual activities?). Now, while Portnoy’s sex life is laid out for us in excruciating detail, we have to assemble a picture of Boswell’s sex life from the anecdotes he unashamedly sets out in his many journals. We know Boswell was afraid of masturbation. Compare that to Portnoy, whose least embarrassing admission is sitting in bed one evening in his 30s and playing with himself while reading Freud. Portnoy’s obsessions may relate to his mother, who Roth describes as the quintessence of Jewish motherhood. Did Boswell’s obsession relate to his mother, Euphemia Boswell, Lady Auchinleck? Possibly, but she was a devout Calvinist. Women come and go in Boswell’s life, and he describes in Eighteenth century terms (that amuse or shock us today) his experiences with prostitutes. Likewise, women come and go for Portnoy whose sexual timeline includes his mother Sophie (of course), the Monkey (Mary Jane Reid), ‘Bubbles’ Girardi and others. His accounts will make you wince, Boswell’s anecdotes are lightweight in comparison.

Portnoy respects his dad, Jack, and the role he’s taken on as patriarchal Jew, father, husband and wage earner, but he’ll seek an easier career. Boswell, respects his father Alexander, Lord Auchinleck, but acknowledges he’ll never be like him – a Scottish judge at the very top of the profession. Portnoy studies and in New York becomes assistant commissioner for human opportunities. Boswell studies and becomes a lawyer, never fully distinguishes himself, but does exhibit an unexpected inclination for the underdog. Portnoy escapes New Jersey and his family for a life of lust and his career in New York. Boswell, married and with children, lives in Edinburgh, but steals away to London each year to spend time with the literati there where he is well known, and often will pursue sexual endeavours. Portnoy is as Jewish as its possible to be, yet he lusts after shiksas (non-Jewish women) and gazes outside the Jewish world at the apparent ease of life for gentiles. Boswell is proud of what he believe is his ancient family. He’s Establishment, yet may secretly yearn for the return of a Stuart king. Stopppp!!!!! Too many comparisons. It’s helpful to make comparisons like these because I learn more about Boswell. He appears more real, as a person who existed in the past, because I realise all the detail I don’t know when I’m confronted by the rich picture Philip Roth created in Alexander Portnoy.

Notes
Portnoy’s Complaint, Philip Roth (1969)