How does Philip Roth use imagery in Portnoy's Complaint?

Imagery:

"... I am on the biggest troop ship afloat ... only look in through the portholes and see us there, stacked to the bulkheads in our bunks, moaning and groaning with such pity for ourselves, the sad and watery-eyed sons of Jewish parents, sick to the gills from rolling through these heavy seas of guilt..."

"...America ... may have been gold in the streets to my grandparents, it may have been a chicken in every pot to my father and mother, but to me ... America is a shikse nestling under your arm whispering love love love love love!"