A Thematic Study Of Alienation Of Saul Bellow’s Henderson The Rain King

Saul Bellow，a prominent Jewish writer as great as Hemingway and Faulkner incontemporary American literature, won the Nobel Prize in1976“for the humanunderstanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in hiswork”. His reputation with heightened sensitivity to alienation of the Jews isestablished by his devoting to exploring the contradictions between essence of beingand the living circumstances.Henderson the Rain King is regarded by many critics as the most constructiveone of Saul Bellow’s. Eugene Henderson, a millionaire plagued by anxiety anddiscomfort in mind, gives up the comfortable modern life and goes on a spiritualjourney in ancient uncivilized Africa for the quest for the meaning and essence of life.With the method of close reading and the support by the theory of alienation, thisthesis aims at exploring Henderson’s spiritual journey from alienation to restoration.This thesis is composed of an introduction, three main chapters and a conclusion.The introduction part firstly puts forward the central problem this thesis exploresthat is, the study on the theme of alienation in Henderson the Rain King and thereasons for choosing this study perspective. And then it summarizes the researchachievements related to the theme of alienation in China and foreign countries.Finally, through analyzing Henderson’s performances of alienation, the causes of hisalienation and his restoration to real world, it examines the essence of being andmeaning of existence and also reveals Bellow’s humanistic concern about the fate ofmankind and his eternal faith in men. Chapter one discusses Henderson’s alienationfrom the social environment, from relatives, friends and other people and fromhimself, which represents Henderson as a typical Bellovian man who is in a dilemmaof harsh living circumstances and spiritual crises. Then Chapter Two analyzes threecauses for Henderson’s alienation: Henderson’s spiritual void, his Jewish status andthe disillusionment of American Dream. Chapter Three probes into Henderson’s final restoration including Henderson’s persistent quest, the influence from the Queen ofArnewi and Dahfu and his epiphany on the plane.Finally, the conclusion part briefly reviews the main contents of this thesis,affirming Saul Bellow’s status in American literature and his literary contributions.Bellow advocates the use of the power of art’s negation for that art has the power tosalvate human’s soul, which reveals his humanistic care and his eternal confidence inhuman’s destiny.