Straight Man is a satirical novel by Richard Russo that follows the life of William Henry Devereaux Jr., a professor of English and creative writing at a small college in Pennsylvania. The story is set in the 1990s and focuses on Devereaux's academic and personal struggles as he navigates a midlife crisis and the absurdities of academia.
The novel opens with Devereaux dealing with a variety of crises. His wife, Joy, has left him, his daughter is getting married, and his father is ill. Meanwhile, the English department at the college is facing budget cuts, and the faculty members are all vying for the position of chairperson. Devereaux is initially reluctant to get involved, but he soon finds himself at the center of the conflict.
Throughout the novel, Devereaux uses wit and sarcasm to cope with his various challenges. He finds himself in absurd situations, such as when he pretends to have a heart attack to avoid a confrontation with a colleague or when he declares himself a homosexual to get out of trouble with the campus police.
Devereaux's relationships with his colleagues are also a significant theme in the novel. He has a contentious relationship with the department's chair, Finch, and a complicated friendship with his former mentor, Gracie. He also has a tense relationship with his estranged wife, Joy, and his daughter, who he feels is marrying the wrong man.
Devereaux becomes increasingly disillusioned with academia and his life as the novel progresses. He begins to question the value of his work and wonders if he has made the right choices in his life. Despite this, he continues to use his humor and wit to get through the challenges he faces.
In the end, Devereaux finds a new sense of purpose and direction. He realizes that he can use his writing talents to make a difference in the world, and he begins to work on a new novel. The novel ends with Devereaux feeling more optimistic about his future, even as he recognizes that he still has many challenges ahead of him.
