46 pages • 1 hour read
Sabbath's Theater
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth, published in 1995, is a work of literary fiction that follows the titular character Mickey Sabbath, an aging yet lustful man, as he navigates life after the passing of his long-time mistress, Drenka. As Sabbath runs from his loss and his unhappy marriage, he finds himself in New York City, confronting the pain of his first wife’s disappearance and the death of his older brother, Morty, during World War II. Like many of Roth’s novels, Sabbath’s Theater explores such themes as the stress of aging and sexual desire as a guiding force. Some of Roth’s other acclaimed works include Portnoy’s Complaint (1969), American Pastoral (1997), and The Plot Against America (2004). Sabbath’s Theater won the 1995 National Book Award and was a finalist for the 1996 Pulitzer Prize.
This study guide references the paperback First Vintage International Edition, first published in August 1996.
Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain many references to alcohol addiction, death by suicide and suicidal ideation, sexual assault as well as sexual situations in which consent is not clear, racism, misogyny, and transphobia perpetuated by the Unlock all 46 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By Philip Roth
