Essay Questions

What is the significance of the novel’s title?

The book’s title is a reference to the song sung at Ron Patimkin's graduation ceremony at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. It is also a reference to a dream Neil has while staying at the Patimkins' house. The dream features himself and a black child from the library. In his dream he finds himself on an archaic wooden sailing ship moored in an unspecified Pacific Island and he narrates being surrounded by beautiful black women who stand motionless on the beach but begin to sing the song “Goodbye, Columbus” when they sail away from the island. The title of the novel is also a allusion to the historical figure Christopher Columbus whom Neil fancies himself to be later on when he moves away from the downtrodden inner city of Newark, New Jersey into the affluent community of Short Hills, New Jersey on a supposed journey of discovery.

What does sporting goods symbolize in the novel?

The Patimkin family is able to move into the affluent suburb of Short Hills because of the wealth generated by their sporting good business. Sporting goods is symbolic of the Patimkin clan’s success and a variant of the fulfillment of the American dream. The symbol of sporting goods are used with the image of sporting goods display trees which yet another nod to Christopher Columbus, whom Neil fancies himself to be like. The display trees are playful allegory of the lush trees that might line the coastlines of lands being discovered as he sets out to conquer “new territory”—the Short Hills community.

How is the theme of identity discussed?

The theme of identity is central to the book and it is discussed through the interactions of the characters with one another. There is the discussion of identity as it is tied up to race, as seen in Neil’s dream featuring the black kid from the library and the maidens on the Pacific Island. There is also the theme of identity as it relates to Neil's fantasy cum psychological coping mechanism of seeing himself as “an explorer of new territories” as a young Jewish man entering into the society circles of the wealthy Short Hills community. All in all, the theme of identity—specifically the Jewish-American identity—is what is being discussed in the book; even more specifically it is the many Jewish interpretations and opinions concerning America is what really ties it all together. Every Jewish character tackles a different nuance of what it means to be a Jew and how that affects them as they operate within their respective circle of influence.