CHAPTER III
RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Type of Research
This study utilizes an innovative qualitative descriptive approach to generate fresh
perspectives on specific phenomena encountered by individuals or communities.
By systematically interpreting lived experiences through accessible language, this
method seeks to uncover original insights and novel dimensions of events,
contributing to a nuanced understanding of their contextual significance (Lambert
& Lambert, 2012). The analysis prioritizes depth and clarity, aiming to advance
knowledge by framing observations within a framework of exploratory discovery
rather than mere). The approach is particularly useful when examining the
nuances of social and cultural experiences, such as the marginalization of Jewish-
Americans as depicted in The Plot Against America. Based on this explanation,
the researcher will use the qualitative descriptive research method to conduct this
study.
3.2 Object of the Research
The object of this research is a novel by Philip Roth entitled The Plot Against
America. The Plot Against America is an alternate history novel that explores the
marginalization of Jewish-Americans during the rise of fascism in the United
States. The novel depicts the Levin family's struggle as antisemitic policies take
hold under the presidency of Charles Lindbergh, leading to their social and
political exclusion. The characters, particularly the Jewish-America, face
challenges as they attempt to resist their marginalization and maintain their
identity in the face of growing hostility.
3.3 Technique of Data Collection
The data for this research were collected from Philip Roth’s novel The Plot
Against America (2004), which served as the primary source. The researcher
systematically extracted textual evidence—including phrases, sentences, and
paragraphs—to investigate themes of marginalization and resistance within the
Jewish-American community as depicted in the narrative. To ensure rigor, the
process began with close reading, a method involving multiple, attentive readings
of the novel. This approach allowed the researcher to gain a comprehensive
understanding of the plot, identify significant details, and detect recurring motifs
related to the research focus, such as systemic othering and acts of defiance by
marginalized characters.
Following this, relevant data were identified and classified based on their
alignment with the study’s objectives. Specific textual segments were isolated,
particularly those illustrating the circumstances leading to the marginalization of
the Jewish-American community. These included passages highlighting political
rhetoric, social exclusion, or personal experiences that positioned the community
as “the Other.” The selected data were then categorized thematically. For instance,
under “Circumstances of Marginalization,” excerpts were grouped to analyze how
political, social, or individual factors contributed to the community’s alienation.
Finally, the classified data were analyzed through the lens of postcolonial literary
theory, drawing on frameworks by Edward Said (e.g., Orientalism) and Pramod K
Nayar (e.g., theories of colonial alienation and resistance). This theoretical
approach guided the examination of how power dynamics, stereotypes, and
systemic exclusion operate within the novel. The analysis focused on unpacking
Roth’s portrayal of anti-Semitic structures and the community’s resistance
strategies, bridging the fictional narrative to broader postcolonial critiques of
marginalization. By methodically linking textual evidence to theoretical concepts,
this technique addressed the research gap by foregrounding underexplored
mechanisms of othering in both the novel and its sociohistorical context.
3.4 Data Sample
Data analysis in The Plot Against America uses postcolonial theory. With research
questions that discuss the circumstances that have led the Jewish-American
community to become marginalized and how they attempt to resist and overcome
this marginalization, postcolonial theory is essential for analyzing these issues.
This approach helps to explore the power dynamics, identity struggles, and acts of
resistance within the context of the novel's alternate history.
Data Sample:
Data (Quote): " I would have been a less frightened boy if Lindbergh hadn’t been
president or if I hadn’t been the offspring of jews (Roth, The Plot Against
America, Chapter 1, p 1)
Analysis:
1. Identifying the Issue: This quote underscores the intersection of personal
identity and political power in shaping fear and vulnerability. The
speaker’s childhood terror is directly tied to his Jewish identity under a
presidency (Lindbergh’s) that implicitly or explicitly threatens his
community. The conditional phrasing (“if… or if…”) highlights how
systemic marginalization amplifies personal anxiety, framing Jewishness
as both a source of pride and a burden in a hostile sociopolitical climate.
2. Applying Postcolonial Theory: Drawing on Frantz Fanon’s exploration
of internalized oppression, the speaker’s fear reflects the psychological
trauma of existing as a “colonized” subject within one’s own nation.
Lindbergh’s presidency symbolizes a hegemonic power that legitimizes
othering, forcing the child to view his identity as a liability. The phrase
“offspring of jews” suggests an inherited, inescapable marginalization,
mirroring Fanon’s idea that colonial systems fix identities in ways that
perpetuate subjugation. The boy’s fear is not just personal but collective,
rooted in a history of persecution that the political climate reignites.
3. Preliminary Conclusion: Roth uses this introspective reflection to
critique how political leadership can weaponize identity, transforming
cultural heritage into a source of existential dread. The quote encapsulates
the dual burden of historical trauma and present-day precarity for
marginalized groups, illustrating how systemic oppression infiltrates even
the most intimate spheres of life here, a child’s sense of safety. By linking
fear to both identity and governance, Roth exposes the fragility of
belonging in a society where power aligns with exclusion.
Example 2:
Data (Quote): “Lindbergh can deal with Hitler, they said, Hitler respects him
because he’s Lindbergh. The only ones against him, the people said, are the jews.”
(Chapter 2, p 55)
Analysis:
1. Identifying the Issue: This quote reflects the deep psychological toll of
marginalization experienced by Jewish-Americans. The speaker expresses
a sense of helplessness and historical continuity of persecution,
emphasizing their collective fear and isolation.
2. Applying Postcolonial Theory: Drawing from Fanon, this statement
encapsulates the psychological impact of being “othered.” The constant
fear and internalized oppression underscore the systemic nature of
marginalization. The speaker’s words show how the group’s identity is
shaped by external hostility, reinforcing their alienation.
3. Preliminary Conclusion: Roth uses this internal monologue to highlight
the emotional and existential struggles of Jewish-Americans during a
politically tumultuous era. The quote reveals how the characters grapple
with the weight of historical persecution alongside their immediate
marginalization.
