| Saul Bellow’s Herzog has been studied from various perspectives, includingtranscendentalism, realism and existentialism. Whatever the perspective is, theirfocuses are invariably cast on the theme of the novel, namely, what is revealed in thespiritual experiences of the protagonist. However they comprehend those experiences,Freud’s theories are seldom employed. This thesis attempts to explore the protagonist’sspiritual process from a new angle, thus providing a new way of reading Herzog. Bymeans of Freud’s personality theory, the thesis analyzes three aspects of Herzog’spsychological experiences, which are the causes for the neurosis, the manifestations ofpersonality conflict and the salvation elements in releasing him from the mentalbreakdown. In the novel, Herzog’s mental state experiences three stages. At first, hehas a balanced personality. After Madeleine’s departure, the balance is destroyed. Thepaper discovers that three elements contribute to the mental breakdown, includingHerzog’s alienation from reality, Madeleine and Valentine’s treachery, and unqualifiedinstructions from his three friends. The thesis also covers three manifestations relatedto Herzog’s personality conflict: incessant letter writing, uncontrollable spiritualviolence and death anxiety. Moreover, accompanying Herzog’s struggles, the paperexpounds on the three instrumental factors helping him get out of the predicament,involving Ramona’s replacement of Madeleine, Herzog’s family love and the ego’sbalancing role in the letter writing. In conclusion, after this spiritual expedition, thepaper finds that Herzog not only resumes his personality balance, but also reunites himwith the reality. With a stronger will, Herzog is sure to confront the material-orientedmodern society while maintaining his own conscience and humanism. By analyzingthe whole spiritual experience, the thesis finds that the significance of the novel is itsenlightenment to all intellectuals who survive in a spiritually undeveloped modernsociety. |
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