The Senselessness of Disease
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. In 1944, Weequahic experiences an intense surge in severe cases. Older members of the community recall the slew of diseases that have plagued Weequahic in prior decades, but polio's devastation seems unmatched. Bucky is especially affected by the effects the virus has on the youngest, most vulnerable members of the community. When Weequahic is hit hardest, the citizens want answers. What causes polio? Are there preventable measures to be taken? Is there a cure? These unanswered questions, coupled with the intense destruction caused by the virus, lead to heightened feelings of paranoia and doubt. Weequahic's hostility compounds Bucky's own anxieties, and these feelings later manifest into self-loathing and depression.
Personal Responsibility
Bucky's general feeling of helplessness causes him to blur the line between what is outside his realm of control and what is not. For example, Bucky obsesses over the fact that he cannot complete his military service. He wastes his energy worrying about his poor eyesight, and he fails to realize that his own medical condition is outside his realm of control. Later, Bucky transforms his anxieties about the virus into something within his responsibility. He begins to see himself as a carrier, and he unfairly feels responsible for destroying his community. Most importantly, Bucky fails to grasp the only thing he can control—his emotional wellbeing. By assuming personal responsibility for the tragedies in his life, Bucky feels unworthy of love and affection. Ultimately, Bucky's skewed sense of personal responsibility facilitates his demise.
Questioning One's Faith
Bucky is raised in an observant Jewish household. In addition, Weequahic is an insular Jewish neighborhood: Ashkenazi Jewish culture defines the community's practices and customs. Ethnic conflict is at the center of the story; after the Italians spit on Bucky's playground, the students begin to contract polio. Although there is no scientifically provable correlation between the two events, the Jewish community feels antagonized by the Italians.
The rise of antisemitism during World War II also causes the citizens of Weequahic to feel prone to attack. Because polio hits Weequahic the hardest out of all the other ethnic neighborhoods in Newark, many citizens think the disease intended to wipe out their population. All of these factors prompt Bucky to question his relationship to Judaism.
As Bucky navigates the tragedies of the polio pandemic, he fails to understand why God would ever allow for so many children to senselessly die. Later, Bucky grows angry at God for his mother's premature death. Bucky's resentment towards God reiterates the motif of scapegoating. As the citizens of Weequahic are forced to deal with the hopelessness of their reality, they blame various forces for their misfortune.
The Innocence of Childhood
Childhood is often associated with innocence and simplicity. However, the relationship between youth and purity is turned on its head during the polio epidemic of 1944. Instead of being carefree and unbothered, the children in Weequahic are anxious and hysterical. Those who do not contract polio are emotionally traumatized as they are left to grieve for their classmates, peers, and friends.
Although the playground is believed to be the "epicenter" of polio within the community, the act of playing allows for children to distract themselves from their harsh reality. On the playground, the children are able to activate their imaginations and convene with their friends. For this reason, Bucky takes his job very seriously. As the playground director, Bucky feels responsible for preserving the illusion of the children's innocence.
The Politics of Crisis
Throughout history, crises often yield upsurges in nationalism. During times of adversity and uncertainty, people often look to their local and national communities for comfort and encouragement. In 1944, the community of Weequahic must cope with the effects of two global tragedies—World War II and polio. The community responds by exercising their patriotism, and this rise of nationalism is evident throughout Nemesis.
Firstly, it is important to understand patriotism as it pertains to Weequahic. Firstly, the young adults in Weequahic are the children and grandchildren of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Fighting in the war allows them to exercise their American identity. Additionally, fighting for the United States—against Hitler—provides them with the feeling that they are simultaneously defending their Jewish identities.
While at Indian Hill, Bucky sees how American nationalism is being exercised by the youngest campers. The summer camp is steeped in "Americana," and Mr. Blomback uses Native American rituals to create a "campy" theme. During "Indian Night," which takes place during one evening each week, Mr. Blomback dresses up as a Native American chief and reads the campers the latest news headlines. Bucky is shocked as the campers offer commentary about the U.S. winning WWII and FDR being re-elected as president.
Environmental Injustice
The first chapter of Nemesis is entitled "Equatorial Network." Throughout the story, Roth emphasizes the city's oppressive heat and wetland-ringed geography. The humid air is a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and the insects are known to carry diseases. Newark's susceptibility to disease introduces the novel's theme of environmental injustice. Throughout history—and still today—low-income communities are particularly susceptible to environmentally-related diseases due to the location of their neighborhoods.
When Bucky visits Indian Hill, he is struck by the campground's natural beauty. He juxtaposes the clean air with Newark's ruggedness, and he immediately feels at ease. However, Bucky comments that attending summer camp is not a realistic summer alternative for Weequahic children. Bucky is brought to the camp through his fiancée Marcia, who comes from an upper-middle-class background. Although Indian Hill is not immune to polio following Bucky's arrival, the environment provides an escape from the atrocities of the present day.
Aging and the Passage of Time
In the final decade of his life, author Philip Roth published four books. This collection of writing is often classified as the "Nemeses" novels and includes Everyman (2006), Indignation (2008), The Humbling (2009), and Nemesis (2010). Throughout his career, Roth was notably recognized for blurring the line between reality and fiction, autobiography and fantasy. It is understandable that Roth's later works thus center around the themes of mortality and aging.
When Arnie catches up with Bucky, he learns how Bucky's psychological state has worsened as he has gotten older. Now in the latter part of his life, Bucky is haunted by the memories of his past and questions life's meaning. Although time has passed, Bucky's wounds have only grown deeper.
In his final years, author Philip Roth expressed pessimism about society's future. Nemesis could be understood as a sort of foretelling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bucky's experience with polio strangely mirrors how vulnerable communities were particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
