164 Materiality and the Modern Cosmopolitan Novel
embedded in the structure of the tragedy, is one that stresses the nec-
essary material basis of social equality.
As is iterated in the introduction, this is a postulation that finds
consonance with the work of Kendall, Woodward, and Skrbis, who
insist that cosmopolitanism relies upon certain material condi-
tions.^77 Turner adds further ethical and sociological depth to this
argument and contends that cosmopolitan practice requires mutual
respect and recognition for all—modes of behavior that can only
be achieved if the material circumstances in society encourage an
egalitarian regard for the Other.^78 Turner then takes the discussion
toward the subject of minority groups and contends that “without
recognition of minority rights, no liberal democratic society can
function, but recognition requires some material and legal changes
to equalize the relationships between social groups.”^79 Given that the
social circumstances in which Levov operates encourage inequality,
I argue that they are also inconducive to the kind of cosmopolitan
society that Turner envisages.
Interestingly, Turner’s approach also appears to resonate with
some of the (albeit crude) expressions of political correctness that
Coleman Silk falls victim to in The Human Stain. One could there-
fore say that the two novels present contrasting arguments for the
liberal project of political correctness, with the latter work conveying
an image of its excesses and American Pastoral perhaps vindicating
its social necessity.
Importantly, it is Levov’s silences that reveal the degree to which
his ideology both inherently exploits and minimizes history’s impor-
tance and materiality. This is an ideology he believes, that is repre-
sentative of “American values” and is accompanied by a reductive
vision of American history that all but omits the existence of Native
Americans (figuratively “leapfrogging” over their reservation). The
ideology is also typified by a denial of the iniquities in social power
brought about by large discrepancies in material wealth (symboli-
cally giving orders to tanks stationed outside his factory). However,
before I continue describing the ways in which Roth proceeds to cri-
tique these shortcomings of American neoliberalism, it is important
to highlight that the author makes a point of illustrating the cul-
tural bonds and values that are also rendered in its pursuit. Indeed, a