An Analysis Of The Redemption Mechanism In Saul Bellow’s Novels

As a Jewish novelist, Saul Bellow has won great reputation in novel creation with the publication of The Adventure of Augie March (1953), Seize the Day(1956), Henderson the Rain King(1959), Herzog(1964),Humbolt’s Gifts(1975). Saul Bellow is the only novelist to receive three National book awards in America. In 1975 he won Pulitzer Prize for his novel Humboldt’s gift. The Nobel Prize for literature was awarded to him in 1976 "for the human understanding and subtle analysis of contemporary culture that are combined in his work." Saul Bellow study has been the attraction of the intellectuals. Most of the studies and critics are centered on his humanistic concern towards the spiritual world of the intellectuals. While still others focus on the study of the Jewish traits in his creations. Many writings turn their attention to the modernistic traits or interpret his novels in view of feminism. However, this thesis views the spiritual redemption mechanism of the Jewish protagonists in Saul Bellow’s novels which are of great significance to the interpretation of Bellow’s value.By taking Bellow’s two best known novels Humboldt’s gift and Herzog as a case study, this thesis conducts a comprehensive study on the culture roots and its influences to Bellow’s novels. The factors as spiritual wandering, suffering, sense of marginality, the role of family value are carefully interpreted in this paper. The factors mentioned above contribute the whole process of spiritual redemption mechanism. According to Saul Bellow’s best known novels as Herzog, Humboldt’s Gifts, this thesis analyses the main protagonists’ living conditions and its connections with their spiritual crisis. Beyond the spiritual crisis, the paper believes that the Jewish values and culture influence shared by the characters are the core reason of their spiritual crisis. Most important is that this thesis claims Bellow is a responsible writer. Beside the subtle description of internal world, Saul Bellow also proposes a way of redemption to his protagonists. This thesis believes that Bellow exerted profound interpretation of the modern society, he is also responsible for the finding of way out to the mental crisis represented by his characters.