An Analysis Of The Quest Theme In Saul Bellow’s Fiction

As a American Jewish writer,Saul Bellow is profoundly affected by Jewish traditional culture both in life and writting. Suffering consciousness and optimistic ethics in Jewish Culture are not only a motiviation that promote Bellow to keep looking for and go on in his life or a foundation of Bellow’s view of literature and art, but also the source of the spirit in Bellow’s writting.Through carding the subject about "quest" in Bellow’s fiction,this paper tries to explore the Jewish cultural sources in the "quest" theme,and conclude the concrete reveal and connotation of this cultural sources in the texts.In the face of absurd and disordered reality.the characters in Bellow’s writting are all in a lonely and alienation situation, as the victims of this era,they are in a state of hanging,but still trying to find the essence of who they are, the meaning of existence and existential foothold;they never give up looking for Family warmth and eternal artistic mind.Their quest always flow in the specific time and space,in this process,Bellow gives his heroes courage and tenacity,these heroes’s enthusiasm and courage reflects the temperament and imprint of the jewish people.However this looking for ends,the ending of Bellow’s fictions is always pointing to the future,and implying the begining of a new life. The ending like this reflects Bellow’s confindence to human and affirmation of the future.Through writting the theme of "quest",Bellow showes the absurdity of the world、human alienation and the spiritual predicament,and always keeps discussing the pathway for alienation resistance and identity affirmation.Bellow’s fiction has become a general discussion about common human problems as a result of Bellow’s attention to human fortunes,his care about human nature and his confidence are what the value of his works.