Sean Ziaie

Professor Rosenbaum

Literature and Composition

In the story, Defender of the Faith, a short story taken from Goodbye Columbus by Philip

Roth, the reader follows the story’s protagonist, Sergeant Nathan Marx. It is the year 1945

following the war in Europe. Sgt. Marx is a Jewish Sergeant. He often struggles with balancing

his beliefs as a Jew, with the pressures of a Sergeant. Occasionally Marx abuses his power, but

on other times, Marx is taken advantage of by another soldier named Grossbart. Despite that,

Marx ultimately cares for the soldiers in his platoon. Many of whom are of Jewish descent. Marx

makes sure that his men are eating right, sleeping well, and even gives them their own liberty on

certain occasions. However, despite all this, one must ask themselves, why does Sergeant Marx

feel the need to forgive himself?

In the story, the most prominent and outstanding reason that Sergeant Marx feels the need

to forgive himself is because of his relationship with Grossbart, who is also a Jewish soldier. On

numerous occasions throughout the story, Marx catches Grossbart in a lie. This usually ends with

Marx pressing Grossbart to reveal the truth. An example of this is when Grossbart asked for a

weekend pass to go to his aunt’s house for a seder, which is a lie. Marx is a compassionate

Sergeant who feels for all of his soldiers. Even Grossbart. However, when Marx was informing

his soldiers that they will be sent to fight the war in the Pacific, he later finds out that Grossbart

had befriended a Corporal, and would not be sent to the Pacific with the rest of his Platoon.

Instead he would be sent to Monmouth. A much more peaceful location. Marx does not stand for

this and calls to make sure Grossbart goes to the Pacific. Marx needs to choose between his

loyalty to Grossbart, or his loyalty to his own sense of justice. In doing so, Marx must understand

that he may be sending a Jewish man like himself to his demise. In the end, Marx chose justice,

but he will likely forever feel guilty about sending Grossbart to the Pacific.