From Bondage To Freedom

Saul Bellow, the winner of Nobel Prize for literature in 1976, has become, in the words of Leslie Fiedler, the heir to the Hemingway-Faulkner prestige in American literary field. He also has become one of the most articulate spokesmen for modern man, especially the modern intellectuals. After the two world wars, owing to the social and spiritual crises, modern man is deluged by the sense of absurdity and disillusionment. With a sense of emergency, he feels confused about his own existence. Saul Bellow, with his "human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture";(Nobel Prize Presentation Speech) with existential theories as his basis to think about existence; with human situation and their destiny, especially those of the intellectuals, as his ultimate concern, created a number of frustrated, anxious, "dangling" characters.Ever since its publication in 1964, his sixth novel Herzog has attracted the attention of the literary critics. Herzog is one of the representative works of Saul Bellow, and it is also concerned with the most social problems. What makes Herzog so overwhelming is its attempt to incorporate so many contrary ideas. The novel hasn't complicated plots, and has few dialogues. However, the author depicts the spiritual situation of characters with monologues and psychological analysis. Although it is a portrait of an introspective, troubled hero, it is also about the living situation of the whole society. Just as Bellow said, "The inevitable individual mess also reflects the whole social tragedy."(Rovit, 1967: 17)The thesis consists of four parts. In the introduction, after a summary of Saul Bellow's life and writing, there is a brief introduction to the novel Herzog.Chapter one gives a brief introduction to the theory of existentialism and its influence on Bellow's creation. As a writer who emerged during World War Two andhas been active ever since, Bellow naturally took up existentialism, which was popular in America after World War Two, as a new view of life and a spiritual retreat.Chapter two discusses the confusion and predicament of Herzog, the protagonist. As a professor, Herzog feels alienated in family and social life. He is no longer sure of who he is and what his goals are. He is full of anxiety, and wanders from place to place, trying to get tranquility and freedom. Because of his imperfect understanding of the meaning of existence and freedom, and also because of his powerlessness, he suffers a lot emotionally and spiritually. In addition, modern man is haunted by the shadow of death and this is another reason for Herzog's anxiety. In childhood Herzog often dreams of finding ways to escape from death and in adulthood, he is frequently tortured by the contemplation of death.Chapter three focuses on Herzog's twilight of hope to succeed. Although he suffers a lot from his second divorce and feels displaced, so much so that he is very depressed and has to write a lot of unsent letters to alleviate his pain, at last, new hope arises in his heart. He is no longer self-centered, and is surer about his ability. He is willing to be accommodated by the society, and has begun to come to terms with the life. In fact, at the end of the novel, he says, "I am pretty well satisfied to be, to be just as it is willed, and for as long as I may remain in occupancy." (H, p340)Chapter four centers on Herzog's inner transformation, that is, the change of his heart. In a sense, chapter four is a reinforcement of chapter three. Herzog realizes that one can obtain freedom through forgiving others. The world does not consist merely of abstract theories, but of the society and nature. Only by approaching positively towards the society and nature and playing an active part can one improve his existence and can the fettered heart get redemption.On all accounts, under the impact of existentialism, Bellow develops a life philosophy of his own. On the basis of detailed analysis, this thesis aims to find out the belief and faith implied in the novel. Herzog shows a world of depression and anxiety, but the author still firmly believes that there is a fairly bright future aheadfor man as long as he plucks up enough courage to live a meaningful life. If he keeps on trying to seek a foothold in the tottering world, he is bound to obtain his desired meaning of life and freedom. He once said in the mouth of Herzog that "Simple and general human conditions prevailed among the most seemingly sophisticated".(H, p17) And he is "convinced that the realm of facts and that of values are not eternally separated".(H, p106) Therefore, he is not willing to let his characters give up the life. It is the light of that conviction which makes the facets of his writing sparkle.