Athena

Athena is a fictional town in western Massachusetts that appears in multiple Philip Roth novels. Zuckerman used to live in New York City, but when he began receiving anti-Semitic death threats, he moved to Athena and established a reclusive life there. A neighbor named Larry Hollis befriended Zuckerman, and it was one of Larry’s dying wishes that Zuckerman not continue to live in isolation. Thus, Zuckerman decided to return to New York City.

New York City

New York City is the most popular us city in the United States. When Zuckerman decides to return to New York City, the act represents his attempt to live in society again rather than in isolation. While some parts of the city have changed, the city is still mostly familiar to him. Unfortunately, he experiences tribulations as he attempts to form new relationships, so he soon decides to move back to...