Howard Jacobson's 'Howl' Review: A Tragicomic Portrait of Jewish Despair
Howard Jacobson's latest novel, Howl, delivers a powerful and unsettling exploration of a Jewish man's mental turmoil in contemporary London. The story centres on Ferdinand Draxler, a suburban primary school headteacher whose life unravels amid the fallout from the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Jacobson, known for his sharp wit and deep character studies, crafts a narrative that is both profoundly tragic and darkly comic, forcing readers to grapple with complex emotions.
A Man Adrift in Divided Times
Ferdinand Draxler is a character defined by his immoderate loves: his actor wife Charmian, his academically gifted daughter Zoe, and the precise rules of grammar. However, the events of October 7 act as a catalyst, exposing dormant anger and guilt within him. As London becomes a city divided by pro-Palestinian marches and rising antisemitism, Ferdinand feels increasingly isolated. His once-pleasurable routines, such as shopping at Fortnum & Mason or visiting the Royal Academy, are now disrupted by protests, and he is horrified to discover his daughter actively participating in these demonstrations.
Jacobson uses Ferdinand's perspective to delve into the reawakened fears of displacement and violence that antisemitism provokes. The novel does not shy away from controversy; it confronts readers head-on with Ferdinand's belief that October 7 has unleashed untrammelled Jew-hatred, providing an alibi for antisemites. This makes Howl an intensely uncomfortable read, yet it remains compelling due to Jacobson's masterful blending of humour and pathos.
The Comic and the Tragic Intertwined
True to Jacobson's style, Howl infuses its serious themes with comic elements. Ferdinand's deputy headmaster is a convert to Judaism who now repudiates Israel, while his Gentile wife exhibits remarkable patience as he externalises his pain through nervous tics. Ferdinand's infidelity, though only in his heart, with an ethereal Jewish woman adds another layer of complexity, especially as she is also the love interest of his brother Isak. Behind it all looms Mutti, a Belsen survivor whom Ferdinand feels compelled to protect from antisemitic graffiti.
This tragicomic approach challenges readers to balance sympathy for Ferdinand's torment with alienation from his increasingly erratic behaviour. As he stalks London streets seeking out antisemitism or takes his pupils to paint over graffiti, it becomes clear he is descending into madness. Yet, his assertion that he is living through a time of madness resonates, highlighting the novel's exploration of collective and individual sanity.
Grammar as a Metaphor for Order
A key motif in Howl is Ferdinand's deep affinity with grammar, particularly a bucolic sentence about a honeysuckle hedge and nesting linnets that he obsessively parses. For Ferdinand, grammar represents order: subjects, verbs, and objects in their proper places create logical conditions for thinking. He sees himself in "ungrammatical times," where this logic has collapsed, leading to an unnavigable muddle. This metaphor underscores his struggle to find meaning and stability in a chaotic world, making his despair both personal and symbolic of broader societal breakdowns.
In conclusion, Howl is a thought-provoking novel that tackles urgent issues with Jacobson's signature blend of intelligence and wit. It offers no easy answers but invites reflection on identity, conflict, and the human capacity for both suffering and humour. Published by Jonathan Cape, this book is a must-read for those interested in contemporary fiction that confronts the complexities of modern life.
