This has led to much discussion among critics as to why Bellow warned his readers against searching for symbolism just before the symbol-packed Rain King hit the shelves. Ī week before the novel appeared in book stores, Saul Bellow published an article in the New York Times titled “The Search for Symbols, a Writer Warns, Misses All the Fun and Fact of the Story.” Here, Bellow warns readers against looking too deeply for symbols in literature. Henderson learns that a man can, with effort, have a spiritual rebirth when he realizes that spirit, body and the outside world are not enemies but can live in harmony.

Having no interest in being king and desiring only to return home, Henderson flees the Wariri village.Īlthough it is unclear whether Henderson has truly found spiritual contentment, the novel ends with an optimistic and uplifting note. Henderson learns shortly before Dahfu's death that the Rain King is the next person in the line of succession for the throne. The lion hunt fails, and the lion mortally wounds the king. The elders send Dahfu to find a lion, which is supposedly the reincarnation of the late king, Dahfu's father.

He quickly develops a friendship with the native-born but western-educated King Dahfu, with whom he engages in a series of far-reaching philosophical discussions. Here, Henderson impulsively performs a feat of strength by moving the giant wooden statue of the goddess Mummah and unwittingly becomes the Wariri Rain King, Sungo. Henderson and Romilayu travel to the village of the Wariri. Henderson attempts to save the Arnewi by ridding them of the frogs, but his enthusiastic scheme ends in disaster, destroying the frogs and the village's cistern. He learns that the cistern from which the Arnewi get their drinking water is plagued by frogs, thus rendering the water 'unclean' according to local taboos. Romilayu leads Henderson to the village of the Arnewi, where Henderson befriends the leaders of the village. Upon reaching Africa, Henderson splits with his original group and hires a native guide, Romilayu. Despite his riches, high social status, and physical prowess, he feels restless and unfulfilled, and harbors a spiritual void that manifests itself as an inner voice crying out 'I want, I want, I want.' Hoping to discover what the voice wants, Henderson goes to Africa. It was ranked number 21 on Modern Library's list of the 100 Best Novels in the English language.Įugene Henderson is a troubled middle-aged man. The novel is said to be Bellow's favorite among his books. The book's blend of philosophical discourse and comic adventure has helped make it one of his more popular works. Henderson the Rain King is a 1959 novel by Saul Bellow.

ჰენდერსონი, წვიმის მეფე by Saul Bellow