DETERIORATION OF MARRIED RELATIONSHIPS: MOVING BEYOND AMBIVALENCE IN PHILIP ROTH’S MY LIFE AS A MAN

Abstract

Ambivalence is a type of psychological imbalance in every human mind that causes several relationships breakdown in fictional as well as in our real life. The term ambivalence isoriginally a psychological term, taken from the German word Ambivalenz, propounded in 1910 by the Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler.  Literally, ambivalence is a condition of uncertainty having synchronous clashing responses, convictions, or sentiments towards a few articles. In this research, ambivalence represents a multidimensional model of cognitive, affective, behavioral and social conflicts found in inter-personal relationships through Philip Roth’s novel My Life as a Man. The most important relationship in this world is the husband-wife relationship as it is responsible for the outbid of the human race. Toby Antony in his article “Divorce pleas hit a record 3,122 in 2019” published in ‘The New Indian Express’,investigated that divorce pleas in Kochi, Kerala hit the record of 3,122 in 2019 which shows a trend of increasing divorces every year in comparison to 2,948 in 2018 and 2,576 in 2017. This is the data only of one city of India, other cities are also suffering from similar kinds. Even the developed countries are not lagging in this regard. The number of divorces granted in the UK in 1961 was 27,000. This doubled to 56,000 by 1969 and doubled to 125,000 divorces by 1972. The number in 2002 was 160,000. The deteriorating relationship of husband-wife day-by-day is a serious matter of concern to investigate its paramount causes through the psychoanalytical perspective and look for modulations for sustaining such relationships long-lasting. After analyzing the various factors, it is revealed in this research that ambivalent attitude is the paramount cause for degradation of this relationship culminating into divorces and separation.There is a human propensity to break the reality into polarities like good/bad or right/false and feelings like affection/antipathy, happiness/dolor, etc. It can be seen because, even unintentionally, people typically deal with the opposite of their knowledge. As literature is the mirror of society, so protagonists of  Philip Roth’s novel My Life as a Man Peter Tarnopol and Maureen are used for investigating and analyzing the issue of ambivalence in the destruction of relationships. This novel is based on unhappy and sterling wedding of Peter Tarnopol with Maureen Tarnopol. Maureen is the talented young writer who all the way tries to be Peter’s  muse but proved herself tobecomes his nemesis. Their partnership morally challenged one as being fraud-based. But the couple's friendship is so twisted that Peter is already attempting – and struggling – to liberate himself from it even after Maureen's demise. Philip Roth has developed a raging tragic stalemate between a man and a woman with his desperate innovations and scorching truths, flaws and shocking brutality. Finding ways to move beyond the ambivalence through fictional characters are done to develop various friendly relationships and nurturing and maintaining the existing relationships for a longer time. All relationships contain contradicting desires now and again; this is the quintessence of conflict. Furthermore, how often each individual relates to one end of polarity often defines the capacity to overcome conflict. Either participant creates habits to bring their partner near or drive them further. Every spouse plays a particular role in the battle against being in or out of the partnership, however, ultimate friction is generated between both partners by identifying themselves with one end of polarity.