Stranger

In the short story Eli, the Fanatic, Roth Philip reveals how societies judge and attempt to conform those who are different. Societies give people a sense of security and stability by setting boundaries and expectations. When individuals do not conform or fit in, the society feels threatened. The societies inability to trust any one outside of its idea of a social norm causes them to label these people as strangers. Roth provokes his readers to question these impulses of society through Eli, who is literally put into the shoes of a stranger.

Philip foreshadows Eli’s role as the individual who is able to step outside of the norm. This is revealed through the emotional complexities he suffers as a result of his own struggle to support the expectations of the unwelcoming society he lives in.

They protect what they value, their property, their wellbeing, their happiness—Happiness? They hide their shame. And you, Mr. Peck, you are shameless? We do it, Eli said, wearily, for our children. This is the twentieth century…For the goyim maybe. For me the fifty-eighth. He pointed at Eli. That's too old for shame. Eli felt squashed. Everybody in the world had evil reasons for his actions. Everybody! With reasons so cheap, who buys bulbs. Enough wisdom, Mr. Tzuref. Please. I’m exhausted. (266)

Eli argues with Tzuref to change the stranger’s appearance because he is socially and professionally forced to. In the process, Eli results in feeling “squashed” because he understands the unjustness of the situation. He respects Tzuref and realizes the pain and inequality the society has caused them to feel. As a result he begins to question the morality of his mission. He feels unattached to society and states, “ It’s not me, Mr. Tzuref, It’s them.” (267) Eli reflects his internal struggle of having to play the part of a civil member of society by revealing his opposition to do so.

Eli’s growing understanding of the unfair judgments society enforces on the stranger is amplified when he wears his suit and confronts him.

And in exchange, the greenie gave him an answer. He raised one hand to his chest, and then jammed it, finger first, towards the horizon. And with what a pained look! As though the air were full of razors! Eli followed the finger and saw beyond the knuckle, out past the nail, Woodenton. What do you want? Eli said. I’ll bring it! Suddenly the greenie made a run for it. But then he stopped wheeled, and jabbed that finger at the air again. It pointed the same way. Then he was gone. And then, all alone, Eli had the revelation. He did not question his understandings, the substance or the source. But with a strange, dreamy elation, he started away. (291)

This interaction between Eli and the stranger is of great significance because of the impact this tacit message has on Eli. After confronting the stranger, Eli openly defies his society as if to prove a point. Roth incites us to interpret the stranger’s gestures as a cry for help. While not directly explaining his gestures, we are able to see the pain the stranger endures for compromising his identity for societies shallow judgments. Eli reveals his full comprehension regarding Tzurefs statement, “You talk about leaves and branches, I’m dealing with under the dirt.” (267) By realizing that the stranger has had to endure prejudice on deeper level. Eli understands that the judgments the stranger endures over his physical appearance are reflective of how society is in truth judging who he is as a person.

In hopes to open the eyes of this community, Eli becomes what they fear. He proves that underneath the stranger’s clothes, he is just the same as everybody else. Roth demonstrates how a society easily allows what we wear to define who we are. We follow the trends to fit into the expectations of society. This allows society to place stereotypes on us. However, behind all of the clothes and the stereotyping, we are who we are, and society can’t change that. Eli as a consequence appears like a fanatic, when really he is able have an open mind and see the true colors of what is wrongly accused to be a stranger.