Essay | Goodbye, Columbus

Goodbye, Columbus, by Philip Roth, tells a classic storyline on how lack of maturity and forceful ideas can lead to a disappointing end. Neil Klugman and Brenda Patimkin use each other in their brief, summer relationship for different reasons and it ultimately causes the disheartening separation.

While both Neil and Brenda are both to blame for the outcome of Mrs. Patimkin finding the diaphragm, Brenda is more accountable. Brenda made love to Neil jus to be spiteful to her mother. She knew that her mother would not approve of having Neil as a boyfriend or of them having sexual intercourse before marriage. Brenda planted the diaphragm in her drawer and left it there purposely. She used Neil for extra attention and to infuriate her mother. In the end, she pushed Neil away from her because his duty was over. She had successfully made her parents, especially her mother, furious....
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