The World According To Garp

At the time of the novel’s publication, Roberta Muldoon was considered a groundbreaking character. Has the depiction of Roberta aged well? To what extent does this novel offer a sympathetic depiction of the transgender community?

The Garp family’s thoughts are dominated by the anxiety-inducing presence of the “Under Toad,” but this appears in different ways for each of them. What does Garp suggest is the difference between male and female anxiety? Would Helen agree with this assessment?

Garp initially takes on the role of homemaker in his marriage for several reasons. How does his stance toward his and Helen’s progressive/nontraditional arrangement evolve throughout the text? What factors influence his attitude toward his marriage and their division of labor?