Henderson the Rain King
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Henderson the Rain King is a 1959 novel by Saul Bellow. It was ranked 21 on Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels. The book's odd blend of philosophical discourse and comic adventure has helped make it one of Bellow's most enduringly popular works. It is said to be Bellow's own favourite amongst his books.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Eugene Henderson is a troubled, middle-aged man. Despite his wealth and high social status, he is left deeply unfulfilled. As a result, Henderson looks to a variety of sources to fill his spiritual void, which has taken the form of a voice crying out “I want”. In order to discover what exactly he wants, Henderson leaves his troubles behind in America and sets off for Africa.
Upon reaching Africa, Henderson splits with his original group and hires a native guide, Romilayu. Romilayu leads Henderson to the village of the Arnewi, and Henderson befriends the leaders of the village. While in the village, he learns that the cistern the Arnewi get their drinking water from has plagued by frogs. Henderson attempts to save the Arnewi by ridding them of the frogs, but his enthusiastic scheme ends in disaster.
Henderson and Romilayu travel to another village, the village of the Wariri. Henderson unwittingly passes a Wariri test and becomes the Wariri Rain King. He quickly develops a friendship with the native, western educated king, King Dahfu. Henderson and Dahfu engage in a series of discussions that help Henderson to fill his spiritual void.
The elders send Dahfu to find a lion, which is supposedly the reincarnation of the late king, Dahfu’s father. Dahfu fails in his attempt to capture the lion, and he is murdered by the elders of the tribe. Henderson learns shortly before Dahfu’s death that the Rain King is the next person in the line of succession for the throne. Fearful that the elders have a similar fate in mind for him, Henderson flees from the Wariri village.
Although it is unclear whether Henderson has truly found spiritual contentedness, the novel ends on an optimistic and uplifting note.
[edit] Discussion
“Henderson the Rain King” (1959) is considered by critics to be either his greatest or most poorly written literary work.
A week before HRK came out in book stores Saul Bellow published a famous article in the New York Times entitled “The Search for Symbols, a Writer Warns, Misses All the Fun and Fact of the Story.” [1]. Here, Bellow warns readers against looking too deeply for symbols in literature. This has led to much discussion among critics as to why Bellow warned his readers against searching for symbolism just before the symbol packed HRK hit the shelves.
Henderson the Rain King (1959) is thematically similar to one of Bellow's previous works, the short story Seize the Day (1956). Both feature men in or approaching their middle years who feel desperate and lack meaningful social contacts. While the main character of Seize the Day suffers a breakdown, Henderson the Rain King ends on an upbeat note, at least for Henderson.
The ongoing philosophical discussions and ramblings between Henderson and the natives, and inside Henderson's own head, prefigure elements of Bellow's next novel, Herzog (1964), which includes many such inquiries into life and meaning.
Death plays a prominent role in all of Bellow’s novels.
A few common character types run through Bellow’s literary works. One character type is the Bellovian hero, often described as a schlemiel. Most of Bellow’s main characters can be given this description. Another character type in Bellow’s novels is the instructor. In HRK, King Dahfu fills this role. In Seize the Day, the instructor is played by Dr. Tamkin. In Humboldt's Gift, Humboldt von Fleisher is the instructor.
[edit] Sources
http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/25/reviews/bellow-symbol.html¹
[edit] Other media
- "Rain King" is a song by Sonic Youth from their album Daydream Nation.
- "Rain King" is a song by the Counting Crows from their album August and Everything After. "Henderson the Rain King" and its characters were an inspiration in the song's writing.
- One passage in the novel inspired Joni Mitchell to write the song "Both Sides Now" in 1967. [2]
- "Rain King" is the name of an episode of The X-Files where Mulder and Scully investigate a man who claims to be able to control the weather.
 |
This article about a 1950s novel is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| Works by Saul Bellow |
|---|
| Novels: Dangling Man • The Victim • The Adventures of Augie March • Seize the Day • Henderson the Rain King • Herzog • Humboldt's Gift • The Dean's December • More Die of Heartbreak • A Theft • The Bellarosa Connection • The Actual • Ravelstein Short Stories : Mosby's Memoirs • Him with His Foot in His Mouth • Something to Remember Me By: Three Tales • Collected Stories • |
