Questing For The Meaning Of Existence

Based on Existentialism, this thesis analyzes Bellow's masterpiece Henderson the Rain King. Chapter One is the introduction, offering a brief review of previous criticism on Saul Bellow and Henderson the Rain King, and showing Existentialism's influence on Bellow's writings. Chapter Two analyses the absurd world around Henderson, presenting this absurdity both on the environments and on man. Chapter Three is about Henderson's experience in the absurd world, revealing that Henderson's life is painful and meaningless. Chapter Four focuses on free choice and responsibility. Existentialists like Sartre think that freedom is identical with man's existence, so man is free to quest for the meaning of existence and create his own value. Meanwhile, they emphasize the connection between free choice and responsibility. Guided by this principle, Henderson gains the courage to face the reality and finds the meaning of existence. Chapter Five, Conclusion, summarizes the main ideas of the dissertation, that is, the world is absurd and life is painful, but by free choice and act man can find the meaning of existence which is to take the responsibility for himself, others and the mankind.