Summary
Marking Norman Mailer's fiction debut, The Naked and the Dead, published in 1948 when he was just 25 years old, is widely regarded as one of the greatest American novels to emerge from World War II. Based partially on Mailer's own experiences serving in the Philippines during the war, the novel follows a platoon of American soldiers as they fight to capture a Japanese-held island in the South Pacific. With its gritty realism, complex characters, and unflinching portrayal of the brutality and futility of war, The Naked and the Dead catapulted Mailer to literary stardom and established him as one of the most important American writers of the 20th century.
Plot
The Naked and the Dead follows an American platoon fighting to capture a Japanese-held island called Anopopei during World War II. The novel opens as the platoon lands on the beach and faces its first combat, where one soldier is quickly killed. As the men push inland, they struggle with the harsh jungle conditions and their own fears and conflicts.
The story alternates between the platoon's grueling mission and flashbacks exploring the soldiers' backgrounds. Key characters include the ruthless Sergeant Croft, the idealistic Lieutenant Hearn, and General Cummings, who sees the war as a way to gain power. Tensions rise between Croft and Hearn as they lead the men on a dangerous reconnaissance patrol into enemy territory.
During the patrol, Hearn is killed and Croft takes command, pushing the exhausted men to climb a treacherous mountain despite their protests. During the ordeal, several soldiers are injured and some die. Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Major Dalleson launches a surprise attack that turns out to be unexpectedly successful, effectively winning the campaign.
In the end, the surviving members of the platoon learn their arduous mission was ultimately pointless, as the Japanese forces had already been severely weakened. The novel closes with the American officers reflecting on the arbitrary nature of war and their own roles in it, while preparing to move on to the next battle.
Themes
Dehumanization of soldiers in war
Power dynamics and struggle for control
Loneliness and isolation
Confronting mortality and fear of death
Masculinity and gender roles
Brotherhood and camaraderie among soldiers
Man's relationship with nature and the environment
Setting
The Naked and the Dead is set during World War II, specifically during the US campaign in the Pacific theater. The novel takes place in the final years of the war, from 1944 to 1945, as American forces are pushing back against Japanese-held territories and advancing toward Japan itself. This tumultuous wartime setting provides the backdrop for Norman Mailer's gritty portrayal of soldiers' experiences.
The novel’s main action occurs on the fictional island of Anopopei in the South Pacific. Anopopei serves as a stand-in for real islands like Luzon in the Philippines that were contested between American and Japanese forces late in the war. The tropical island setting, with its dense jungles, rugged mountains, and oppressive heat, wears down the soldiers as much as the enemy.
Within the island, the narrative moves between several key locations that highlight different aspects of the war experience. These include the beachhead where American forces first land, the mountainous interior that must be traversed on dangerous patrols, and the headquarters and camps where officers plot strategy and soldiers experience the tedium between battles. Through these varied settings, Mailer explores both the intense combat and the psychological toll of war on men in different roles and ranks.
Characters
Sam Croft: A tough, cold-blooded sergeant who loves war and killing. He is seen as one of the best soldiers in the platoon. The other men both fear and respect him as a leader. In his backstory, we learn he was cheated on by the woman he loved, which led to him becoming cold and developing a love for war. Croft refuses to look forward to returning home, believing the war will continue for much longer.
Lieutenant Robert Hearn: General Cummings's assistant, a Harvard-educated officer from an affluent family who despises the caste system within the Army and longs to reach out to the foot soldiers.
General Edward Cummings: The power-hungry commanding general who often compares himself to God. As a child, Cummings experienced gender-role confusion, leading his father to send him to military school. He has an unhappy marriage, possibly due to homosexual tendencies. Cummings engages in philosophical debates with Hearn and deliberately manipulates and humiliates him.
Roy Gallagher: A Boston Irish soldier who is part of an anti-Semitic gang called Christians United. He has an angry demeanor throughout the novel. Gallagher learns that his wife Mary died in childbirth, though their baby survived.
Red Valsen: A soldier who claims he does not want to rise in the ranks. He appears numb to death and the war itself. Red grew up in a Montana mining town before running away from home and losing contact with his family. He joined the Army to escape commitment to his girlfriend and her son.
Julio Martinez: A Mexican-American soldier from Texas, nicknamed “Japbait” by Croft. Initially timid and introverted, Martinez gains courage through battle and becomes an excellent soldier, especially in navigating terrain.
Woodrow Wilson: A large, impoverished white Southerner with a happy-go-lucky and generous nature. Wilson suffers a long, agonizing death after being shot in the stomach by Japanese soldiers.
Joey Goldstein: A Jewish soldier who, unlike Roth, does not view himself as superior to his Christian comrades. Goldstein grew up as a mama's boy and desires to own his own shop. He struggles to support his family and maintain a loving relationship with his wife during the war.
Roth: A fickle Jewish soldier with a superiority complex due to his education. Roth strongly associates with Judaism but refuses to consider himself stereotypically Jewish.
William Brown: A well-liked neighborhood boy from a middle-class family. Brown flunked out of college and married his high school sweetheart. During the war, he constantly worries his wife will cheat on him.
Stanley: A soldier who insists women are no different from men and trusts his wife Ruthie implicitly. He is more ambitious than the other soldiers due to his inexperience in war.
Quick facts
Norman Mailer wrote The Naked and the Dead when he was only 25 years old, based partly on his experiences as a cook in World War II.
The novel was Mailer's debut and became an instant bestseller, remaining on The New York Times bestseller list for 62 weeks.
Mailer claimed the character of Roth in the novel was the most similar to himself, though he said he did not directly portray himself as any of the characters.
Mailer was forced to use the word “fug” instead of “fuck” throughout the novel at the insistence of his publishers.
The rock band The Fugs took their name from Mailer's use of “fug” in the novel.
Mailer wrote the 721-page novel in just 15 months while living in Paris after the war.
The Naked and the Dead is set on the fictional Pacific island of Anopopei during World War II.
Mailer was heavily influenced by Leo Tolstoy's writing while working on the novel, often reading Anna Karenina in the mornings before writing.
The novel was adapted into a 1958 film, directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Aldo Ray and Cliff Robertson.
In 1998, the Modern Library ranked The Naked and the Dead 51st on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.
About the Author
Norman Mailer (1923-2007) was one of the most influential and controversial American writers of the 20th century. He first gained fame in 1948 with his novel The Naked and the Dead. Over the next six decades, he produced a vast body of work spanning fiction, nonfiction, journalism, essays, and films, winning two Pulitzer Prizes and a National Book Award along the way. Mailer was known for his provocative style and larger-than-life persona, often inserting himself into the cultural and political debates of his time.
As a pioneer of “New Journalism,” Mailer blended literary techniques with nonfiction reporting in works like The Armies of the Night and The Executioner's Song. He frequently explored themes of violence, masculinity, power, and American identity in his writing. Some of his most famous books include An American Dream, The Prisoner of Sex, and Ancient Evenings. Beyond literature, Mailer was also involved in politics, running an unsuccessful campaign for mayor of New York City in 1969.
Throughout his career, Mailer courted controversy with his outspoken views and behavior. He feuded publicly with other writers, was arrested during anti-war protests, and faced criticism for his portrayal of women and views on gender. His personal life was equally tumultuous, including six marriages and a 1960 incident where he stabbed his second wife. Despite the scandals, Mailer remained a towering figure in American letters up until his death at age 84. Throughout his career, Mailer pushed boundaries in form and content, helping to expand the possibilities of nonfiction writing while fearlessly engaging with the most pressing issues of his time.
