Existentialism In Jewish Works

Saul Bellow (1915--2005) is one of the most distinguished American writers in thetwentieth century, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in1976for combining theunderstanding of human nature with the analysis of contemporary culture in his works. Writtenin1953, The Adventures of Augie March is Saul Bellow’s signature work, which depicts theconflicts and contradictions encountered by Jewish anti--hero Augie March throughout histramping, his rebellion against reality as well as his quest for a meaningful life. Influenced byexistentialism, Saul Bellow endeavors to excavate the greatness of ordinary people. In hisworks, haunted by existential problems, Mr. Bellow’s protagonists consistently quest for theauthentic being in modern society. Being a Jew by birth, Saul Bellow is also inevitablyinfluenced by his deep rooted Jewish consciousness. Pervading The Adventures of Augie Marchis Saul Bellow’s belief in Judaism, Jewish humanism as well as his optimistic spirit that “thevalue of life exists in dignity rather than in success.”This thesis intends to analyze Saul Bellow’s humanist worldview exhibited in TheAdventures of Augie March from a combined perspectives of Existentialism and Jewishness.This thesis consists of five chapters. The first chapter briefly introduces Saul Bellow’s lifeexperience and works, the literary reception of Bellow’s works both at home and abroad aswell as the thesis’s purpose. Chapter Two focuses on the conflicts and contradictions comeacross by Augie. Just as the Jewish Diaspora in the world, Augie runs into all sorts of conflictsall through his tramping life: the conflicts and contradictions between his self and other as wellas that between his dream and reality. Augie wants to determine his future but is alwayssubjected to others’ controlling; he desires for a meaningful existence but is confronted with afrustrating society. Through the depiction of the frustrating condition Augie lives in, the authorSaul Bellow expresses his humanist concern for the living condition of human being. ChapterThree analyzes Augie’s rebellion against the conflicts and contradictions he encounters. Withthe Jewish people’s unique rebellious spirit, Augie keeps saying no to others’ manipulations.Meanwhile, facing the adverse reality, he is not tempted by money and material comforts, onthe contrary, he bravely takes on the mission of sticking to humanity. Through Augie’sstruggling, Saul Bellow, being a humanistic man of letter, demonstrates his adherence to thegrace and dignity of being a man. Chapter Four explores the questing course of Augie. Despitehis failure in pursuing the absolute freedom, he never surrenders; instead, he tenaciously quests for his authentic existence. As a matter of fact, behind Augie’s persistence is Saul Bellow’soptimistic attitude toward humanism. Chapter Five is the conclusion, in which the authorsummarizes Saul Bellow’s humanist worldview and points out that Saul Bellow, being ahumanist writer of intense social responsibility, expresses his concern for man’s existence inthe world through an ingenious combination of both existentialism and his Jewishconsciousness in The Adventures of Augie March. The novel not only inspires and encouragespeople living in the shadow of the Great Depression and the panic of war in the1930s, but alsoserves as a spiritual motivation supporting modern man to keep the dignity of life and quest forthe authentic being despite of the seemingly chaotic world.