Focus

Rating:
Summary: Arthur Miller -FOCUS-
Review: Arthur Miller's Focus is never dull it has suspense, humor, and violence. His story of Lawrence, the main charactor afraid of the world, gives the reader an insight into the nature of prejudice. He writes about the beliefs middle-class white Americans have about Jews in 1945. His poignant way of explaining Lawrence to the reader gives us a forum to better understand our own feelings. This book is a definite read for anyone that wants to become more socially aware.

Rating:
Summary: Focus on Anti-Semitism
Review: Before coming across this book, I was not aware of the prejudice that faced Jews in America during World War II and the years before the war. The idea of the book is an interesting concept. Lawrence Newman is mistaken for a Jew because of his glasses. Even though he is actually a Gentile, he endures anti-semitic prejudice.

The story has two serious flaws that take away from the overall story. Lawrence's wife, Gertrude, is foul and annoying women. Arthur Miller seems to create most of his female leads with great flaws. I desperately wanted Lawrence to just tell her to shut up. The other flaw is the passive nature of Lawrence. I wanted him to stand up for himself. The issue in the story is not so much anti-semitism as it is Lawrence's extremely passive nature. It is almost predictable that he does not get angry enough to strike back until after he gets beat up and there is nobody around.

The flaws written into the characters take away from the serious issue addressed in the story. While Miller is to be commended for raising the issue, he failed to make a serious statement about it. In other words, it lacks focus. The book claims to be Miller's most controversial work, but it never fully attacks the issue. Finkelstein, an actual Jew, is most compelling character because he is real and has something to say. He fought back, making him the only character that the reader can identify with.

Certainly this is not Miller's best work. Death of a Saleman is one of my favorites stories. This story is solid, but fails to meet expectations.

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: It amazes me how this short novel isn't mandatory reading for high school or college courses! Arthur Miller touches on so many themes and in turn touched my heart at the same time. After reading the back cover of the book, I was anticipating a shallow and predictable anti-semitism novel. I mean, how can one man's glasses a book make, right? Wrong...

Anyone who has ever felt alienated for any reason can empathize with Lawrence Newman, the Christian protagonist, who attempts to no end to conform to his antisemitic neighbors' absurd standards, but to no avail. His boss orders him to purchase glasses due to his myopia(irony indeed) and then his perfect world turns upside down as he himself is branded as "looking Jewish" by his neighbors, his boss, and even his mother. He is poked, prodded and pushed to the brink.

William H. Macy is perfect for the role of Newman. I enjoyed the movie as well, albeit the book should be read prior to viewing the movie in order to fully appreciate Miller's descriptive use of the English language and his prodigious character development.