| In Saul Bellow’s Herzog,the relationship between the hero Herzog and the heroine Madeleine has mainly gone through three stages due to their psychological changes.Before getting married,they are able to maintain their relationship because it satisfies their respective desires.After marriage,their relationship loses balance because of Herzog’s intention to control and manipulate Madeleine.After divorce,their relationship becomes more intense because both regard themselves as the victim of their marriage.They blame each other as the cause of their divorce.By applying the gaze theory in the analysis of the text,it can be seen that there are quite different implications of the gaze in the novel,which have various influences on the characters’ psychology,eventually leading to crucial changes in their relationship.The introduction includes four sections.Firstly,it gives a brief introduction to the author Saul Bellow and the novel Herzog,basically introducing Bellow’s position in American literature and the main plots of the novel.Then,it provides a detailed literature review of both the international and domestic studies on Saul Bellow and Herzog.After that,the significance of this thesis is elucidated on the basis of the literature review.Finally,it illustrates the theoretical framework of the thesis by clarifying the fundamental ideas of the gaze theory and justifies the application of this theory in the analysis of Herzog.The first chapter focuses on the analysis of the relationship between Herzog and Madeleine before their marriage by using Jacques Lacan’s theory of the gaze.In Lacan’s theory,the gaze is related to one’s internal desires – the urge to make up for one’s deficiencies.Constant gaze at others is a way of seeking satisfaction for desires.Before getting married,Herzog was strongly attracted to Madeleine not only because of her beautiful look and sexy body,but also because of her rebellion against Jewish traditions and attempt to fit in the American mainstream society.His constant gaze at her is a demonstration of his desire for sexual satisfaction as well as fitting into the American mainstream society.On the other hand,Madeleine’s gaze at Herzog indicates her longing for the satisfaction of material desires.The second chapter concentrates on the analysis of the relationship between Herzog and Madeleine in their marriage by using Michel Foucault’s theory of the gaze.Foucault brings up the idea of “the empire of gaze” and discovers the relationship between gaze and power.In his theory,there are a series of power operation mechanisms behind the gaze.After getting married,the gaze of Herzog and Madeleine manifests their contest for power.Herzog’s gaze at Madeleine imposes his control over her body and mind,while Madeleine’s gaze displays her resistance to his control.The third chapter analyzes the relationship between Herzog and Madeleine after their divorce by using Jean-Paul Sartre’s theory of the gaze.Sartre emphasizes the conflicts between the gazer and the gazee,claiming that the Other’s look leads to the destruction of all objectivity for the subject.After the divorce,the relationship between Herzog and Madeleine is full of conflicts and confrontations.Both of them regard themselves as the victim of this marriage and the other as the inflictor.Herzog sneaks into Madeleine’s house,peeks at her life,and vainly attempts to shoot her and her lover.Although he has not taken the action,his revengeful gaze is evident.On the other hand,Madeleine does everything she can to avoid meet him and escape from his gaze.When she has to face him,her gaze at him is unsentimental.In this stage,the gaze between the two shows various conflicts and confrontations.The conclusion briefs the key contents in each chapter and draws a conclusion on what role gaze plays in the relationship between Herzog and Madeleine in different periods.In addition,it also attempts to explore Bellow’s thoughts and intentions by describing the changing relationship between the hero and heroine in Herzog. |
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