On the Father-Son Confrontation in Henderson the Rain King

摘要

Henderson the Rain King which tells the story of a WASP millionaire called Eugene Henderson is one of Saul Bellow's best-known works. This paper will have its focus on the father-son relationship, or more precisely, the father-son confrontation, which is a significant clue to comprehend the major theme of the novel: the spiritual poverty in material sufficiency. Consisting of six parts, the paper will firstly have a brief introduction of the writer and the book. Then it will discuss the archetype of the father-son confrontation, how they confront each other, the reasons for their confrontation, and their reconciliation. In the end, a conclusion will be involved.