Like most misogynistic dudes, Rojack in An American Dream only hates women because he fears them. To be honest, Rojack probably has reason to be afraid—he married a wealthy, world-wise heiress who's acted as his ambassador to the world of high society. At his core, then, Rojack knows that everything he's achieved is only because of his wife. Not that this stops him from projecting ridiculous levels of machismo at everyone he meets. It totally doesn't. That said, now's probably a good time to mention that both of the people who die in this book are women. Hrm…
Questions About Gender
- What are the differences and similarities between Rojack's and Shago's brands of masculinity? How about Cherry's and Deborah's brands of femininity?
- Does Rojack see Cherry as a real person? Explain.
- How do Cherry's early-life experiences shape her later relationships with men? How do Rojack's early-life experiences shape his later relationships with women?
- Is Deborah as scary as Rojack believes? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Rojack never sees the women he encounters as living, breathing human beings. Instead, he sees them as objects or representatives of some higher ideal.
Although they seem like very different people at first, Roberts and Rojack both have difficult—and abusive—relationships with the women in their lives. Their violent fear of women reveals a deep similarity between the two men.