Introduction
Plot Summary
Act I: Rabbit’s Discontent
The novel opens with Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom returning to his pregnant wife, Janice, who is frequently drunk. Disillusioned with the dull life of a kitchen gadget salesman, Rabbit reminisces about his glory days as the high school basketball star. This contrast between the past and the present fills him with inner conflict.
One evening, Rabbit leaves his home and family without a second thought. He goes driving around without any purpose in the hopes of finding freedom from the confining bounds of his life. The result is that he ends up in a mess that makes up Act II.
Rabbit goes to consult with his former coach, Marty Tothero. Marty introduces Rabbit to his former mistress, Ruth Leonard, whom he makes his lover. While intimate, Ruth chastises Rabbit for not taking responsibility, abandoning his wife and child.
In the meantime, a principled local minister by the name of Reverend Jack Eccles takes pity on Rabbit. He tries to intervene between Rabbit and Janice, urging him to return home to fulfill his familial obligations. This exposure to Eccles lays bare Rabbit’s complex psyche which has the need for freedom and yet feels guilt at abandoning his responsibilities.
Act III: Tragedy and Consequences
Within some months, Rabbit patchily reunites with Janice, and she gives birth to their second child, Rebecca. Their reunion is short-lived as their relationship is further marred by Janice’s alcoholism and Rabbit’s restlessness. Rabbit leaves again unable to commit to the domestic life that he detests.
In a tragic twist of circumstances, Janice drowns their newborn baby when she is drunk. In the end, this tragedy brings Rabbit face to face with his doings. At Rebecca’s burial, Rabbit delivers an ambiguous eulogy where he confesses remorse and defies everything.
The ending of the novel is left ambiguous because Rabbit runs away again, leading readers to ponder whether he is coming back for redemption or escaping his pattern.
Key Themes
1.Freedom vs. Responsibility
2.Existential Angst
3.The American Dream
4.Gender Roles and Misogyny
5.Religion and Morality
Character Analysis
1.Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom
Rabbit is a truly flawed, yet highly relatable protagonist. He is impulsive, selfish, but at the same time, driven by painful inner conflicts. The major plot revolves around Rabbit’s struggle to reconcile his longing for freedom with his responsibilities.
2.Janice Angstrom
Janice is the epitome of the suburban housewife. Her alcoholism and passivity are the ways through which she copes with Rabbit’s abandonment. Despite her shortcomings, the reader feels sympathy for Janice, especially after Rebecca dies.
3.Ruth Leonard
4.Reverend Jack Eccles
5.Marty Tothero
Literary Style and Symbolism
1.Vivid Prose
2.Symbolism of Running
3.Religious Allusions
Critical Reception and Legacy
Rabbit, Run was initially greeted with critical acclaim upon its release, which described the honest portrayal of human flaws and existential themes. However, criticism has also been received about the explicit content and presentation of gender dynamics. The novel is recognized as a seminal work in American literature, followed by four sequels, continuing the story of Rabbit.
John Updike’s Rabbit, Run is an ageless trip about human desires, responsibilities, and the cost of freedom at any price. Through Rabbit Angstrom’s journey, this novel explores the depth of identity, morality, and societal expectations. To readers looking for an experience that is deep but literary, Rabbit, Run stands as a very relevant work across generations.
