The issue of homosexuality in Portnoy's Complaint is raised as a corollary to Portnoy's sexual identity. Throughout the book he speaks

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Dana Levy

Queer Jewish Culture in America

Professor Hoffman
11/11/05

Response Paper #5

Not Homosexuality!

The issue of homosexuality in Portnoy’s Complaint  is raised as a corollary to Portnoy’s sexual identity.  Throughout the book he speaks of his wild sexual endeavors with women and it seems to the reader that he is almost obsessed with his heterosexuality.  He is constantly reminding the reader how much he lusts after women and one of the driving forces in his life is engaging in sexual relationships, whether it be with a woman or with himself.  The question emerges however, after listening to countless sexual fantasies and their executions, why is this man so concerned with his sexuality?  While it is normal to some extent for many men to be sexual and concerned with their sexual needs, it seems that Portnoy is oversexed, raising the issue of overcompensation and the question of why he feels the need to do this.

        Much of the text plays around Portnoy’s relationship to Judaism and his loathing of the strict laws that are placed upon him by his mother.  As we have previously discussed, Judaism and homosexuality are often compared and it can be understood that because Portnoy is so ashamed of his Judaism he is overcompensating through sex.  It is as if he wants the world to know that he is a “muscle Jew,” masculine in all ways, and full of sexual prowess.  To further exemplify his shame about his Jewish identity, Portnoy can only be sexually potent with non-Jewish women.  He fantasizes about Shiksas, and seeks out non-Jewish women to fulfill his sexual desires.  We are privy to his fear of homosexuality in the text when he explains his testicle debacle and fears,

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“What if breasts began to grow on me too?  What if my penis went dry and brittle, and one day …snapped off in my hand?  Was I being transformed into a girl?  Or worse, into a boy such as I understood…that Robert Ripley of Believe it or Not would pay ‘a reward’ of a hundred thousand dollars for?”(Roth 39).

In this excerpt Portnoy is acting hysterical, wildly imagining all the horrific things that might happen to his manhood.  Rather than fear for his physical health and well-being, he is much more concerned with what the outside world will think of him ...

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