Goodbye, Columbus Study Guide

The relationship between Brenda Patimkin and Neil Klugman centers on lust, money, and their different social classes. She is in a higher class than he is, since her family has made a lot of money and no longer lives in Newark, New Jersey, where Neil lives with his aunt and uncle. The Patimkin's are very much aware of social class. Because Neil has traveled, served in the army, attended college, and is still exposed to many different types of people in the Newark Public Library, he is much less class conscious than they are. However, he is proud of his relationship with Brenda, since she is in the Jewish upper class. This short story centers around Brenda and Neil's brief time together one summer and their ultimate separation. (read more)