Reading Ravelstein In Light Of Martin Buber’s Philosophy Of Dialogue

Due to making a significant contribution to American Literature, American Jewish writerSaul Bellow has attracted much attention from critics. According to his works, it is knownthat Americans Jewish intellectuals should not only return to the culture and follow theteachings of Judaism, but also follow Martin Buber’s "I-Thou" philosophy in handling humanrelationship if they want to keep a foothold and go out the mental lost plight in the alienatedsocial.Ravelstein is a novel with multiple themes. The domestic experts mainly study his worksfrom points of view such as the change of Bellow’s Jewish, narrative technique, the existentialcrisis of intellectuals in his works and Jewish identity confirmation; the foreign expertsmainly study his works from Bellow’s Jewish identity and the connection between Bellow’sworks and real life. However, few people study the novel on the protagonists’ attitude to lifeaccording to present research situation at home and abroad. The purpose of the thesis withemployment of Philosophy of Dialogue theory is to analyze Ravelstein systematically,providing a new theoretical perspective for Jewish-American intellectuals out of mental crisis.Apart from introduction and conclusion, the paper consists of five chapters: Chapter Oneintroduces an overall statement of Saul Bellow and his main works, including present researchsituation at home and abroad, innovation of this paper, purpose and significance. The secondchapter elaborates the produce and significance of Martin Buber’s Philosophy of Dialogue,and explains its connotation and essence. In Chapter three the author demonstrats Ravelstein’s"I–IT" relationship, embodying his viewpoints of friendship, love and cause. Chapter fourdescribes Check’s "I-Thou" relationship which is opposite with Ravelstein’s "I–IT"relationship, embodying two aspects of philosophy: the one associating with people, the otherassociating with nature. The fifth chapter, which introduces the salvation of human, accordingto the Philosophy of Dialogue, in order to go rid of the mental lost plight, the AmericansJewish intellectuals must be able to insist on "I-Thou" relationship and meet the Godwhole-heartedly, as well as following Judaism’s doctrine,eventually to make the crisis goaway.Through describing the different philosophy between Ravelstein and Check, theintention of this thesis is enlightened Jewish intellectuals, whose values are deeply distorted,should root national historical and cultural traditions, adhere to Jewish doctrine and follow"I-Thou" relationship, so that stick to your own identity in the materialistic society in theUnited States.