47 pages 1 hour read

Philip Roth

The Plot Against America

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2004

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter 7

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 7 Summary: “June 1942-October 1942—The Winchell Riots”

Herman quits his job and begins working long hours at Monty’s market. He begins drinking whiskey when he returns home from work in the morning. Sandy rejoins the family and no longer acts contemptuous; Philip is not sure what has changed for his brother. Bess also quits her job to stay home and supervise her erratic sons: “A father remodeled, a brother restored, a mother recovered, eighteen black silk sutures stitched in my head and my greatest treasure irretrievably lost, and all with a wondrous fairy-tail swiftness” (239). 

After his Sunday broadcast, Walter Winchell is fired by Jergens Lotion. His show is replaced by a dance band. Jergens representatives accuse him of having “cried fire in a crowded theater” (240) and that he has slandered the president. The New York Times supports the firing as well, stating that Winchell’s baseless accusations have disgraced him. The paper accuses Winchell of using the Big Lie technique employed by the Nazis. Winchell responds in the Daily Mirror, listing fifteen of his personal enemies who, in his view, typify the new American fascism. It will be his last column. 

Three days later, Winchell announces his candidacy for president.

Related Titles

By Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

American Pastoral

Philip Roth

American Pastoral

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

Defender Of The Faith

Philip Roth

Defender Of The Faith

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

Goodbye Columbus

Philip Roth

Goodbye Columbus

Philip Roth

Plot Summary

logo

Operation Shylock: A Confession

Philip Roth

Operation Shylock: A Confession

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

Portnoy's Complaint

Philip Roth

Portnoy's Complaint

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

Sabbath's Theater

Philip Roth

Sabbath's Theater

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

The Conversion of the Jews

Philip Roth

The Conversion of the Jews

Philip Roth

Plot Summary

logo

The Counterlife

Philip Roth

The Counterlife

Philip Roth

Plot Summary

logo

The Ghost Writer

Philip Roth

The Ghost Writer

Philip Roth

Study Guide

logo

The Human Stain

Philip Roth

The Human Stain

Philip Roth

Plot Summary

logo

Zuckerman Unbound

Philip Roth

Zuckerman Unbound

Philip Roth