The Rothian characters are basically of the same ethnic background so they relate to each other easily. For instance Neil Klugman of Goodbye, Columbus (1959), is caught between conflicting life styles as is Alexander Portnoy.

Klugman demonstrates psychological insight as well as comic revelation, as does his girlfriend Brenda Patimkin. As the archetypical Jewish-American-Princess, Brenda characterizes the nouveau riche of the American suburbs. Like Roth's other characters, these two are strongly attached to their Jewish roots and have to learn how to cope with their past.