An Existentialist Interpretation Of Henderson The Ring King

This thesis analyzes Bellow's masterpieces Henderson the Rain King from the point of view of existentialism, and explores the topic of the novels and Bellow's definition of the existential meaning of human's life. Besides, interpreting Bellow's works from the angle of existentialism can make readers have a more profound and novel interpretation of the writer and his works, by which the essence of the fictional creation can be experienced. It is divided into four parts. The first part, chapter one is the introduction, offering a brief review of previous criticism on Saul Bellow and Henderson the Rain King, giving the brief introduction to Existentialism and showing Existentialism's influence on Bellow's writings. Chapter Two analyzes the absurdity of the world around Henderson, presenting this absurdity both on the environments and on man. Chapter three is about Henderson's experience in the absurd word, revealing that Henderson's life is painful and meaningless. Chapter four deals with the pursuit of authentic being, including the freedom of making a choice and its corresponding responsibility, from which the meaning of existence can be found. the conclusion summarizes the main ideas of the thesis:the world is absurd and life is painful and meaningless, but man can find the meaning of existence, which is to take the responsibility for himself, others and the mankind by free choice and action.By the combination of the protagonist's encounter in Africa in Henderson the Rain King and the whole process of the conversion of their thinking, the thesis analyzes the modernists' spiritual crisis caused by alienation of modern society, and explores energetically its way-out, namely, the meaning of existence, which enable readers to interpret Bellow's works from the angle of existentialism. This thesis analyzes Bellow's masterpieces Henderson the Rain King from the point of view of existentialism, and explores the topic of the novels and Bellow's definition of the existential meaning of human's life. Besides, interpreting Bellow's works from the angle of existentialism can make readers have a more profound and novel interpretation of the writer and his works, by which the essence of the fictional creation can be experienced. It is divided into four parts. The first part, chapter one is the introduction, offering a brief review of previous criticism on Saul Bellow and Henderson the Rain King, giving the brief introduction to Existentialism and showing Existentialism's influence on Bellow's writings. Chapter Two analyzes the absurdity of the world around Henderson, presenting this absurdity both on the environments and on man. Chapter three is about Henderson's experience in the absurd word, revealing that Henderson's life is painful and meaningless. Chapter four deals with the pursuit of authentic being, including the freedom of making a choice and its corresponding responsibility, from which the meaning of existence can be found. the conclusion summarizes the main ideas of the thesis:the world is absurd and life is painful and meaningless, but man can find the meaning of existence, which is to take the responsibility for himself, others and the mankind by free choice and action.By the combination of the protagonist's encounter in Africa in Henderson the Rain King and the whole process of the conversion of their thinking, the thesis analyzes the modernists'spiritual crisis caused by alienation of modern society, and explores energetically its way-out, namely, the meaning of existence, which enable readers to interpret Bellow's works from the angle of existentialism.