Henderson the Rain King

"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 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 favorite amongst his books.

Plot summary

Eugene Henderson is a troubled middle-aged man. 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.

Upon reaching Africa, Henderson splits with his original group and hires a native guide, Romilayu. Romilayu leads Henderson to the village of the Arnewi, where Henderson befriends the leaders of the village. 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. Henderson attempts to save the Arnewi by ridding them of the frogs, but his enthusiastic scheme ends in disaster.

Henderson and Romilayu travel on to the village of the Wariri. Here, Henderson impulsively performs a feat of strength and unwittingly becomes Wariri Rain King. He quickly develops a friendship with the native-born but western-educated Chief, King Dahfu, with whom he engages in a series of far-reaching philosophical discussions.

The elders send Dahfu to find a lion, which is supposedly the reincarnation of the late king, Dahfu's father. The lion hunt fails and the lion mortally wounds the king. Henderson learns shortly before Dahfu's death that the Rain King is the next person in the line of succession for the throne. Fearing the elders would rather see him dead than lead the Wariri, Henderson flees the Wariri village.

Although it is unclear whether Henderson has truly found spiritual contentment, the novel ends on an optimistic and uplifting note.

Discussion

A week before the novel appeared in book stores, Saul Bellow published an article in the "New York Times" entitled “The Search for Symbols, a Writer Warns, Misses All the Fun and Fact of the Story.” [http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/25/reviews/bellow-symbol.html] . 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 "Rain King" hit the shelves. 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.

As in all Bellow's novels, death figures prominently in HRK. Also, the novel manifests a few common character types that run through Bellow’s literary works. One type is the Bellovian Hero, often described as a schlemiel. Eugene Henderson, in company with most of Bellow’s main characters, can be given this description. Another is what Bellow calls the "Reality-Instructor"; in HRK, King Dahfu fills this role. In "Seize the Day", the instructor is played by Dr. Tamkin, while in "Humboldt's Gift", Humboldt von Fleisher takes the part.

Sources

http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/25/reviews/bellow-symbol.html

Other media

*"Rain King" is a song by Terence Boylan from his 1977 album Terence Boylan. It is clearly based on Bellow's novel.
*"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. [http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-96/12-07-96/b01ae065.htm]
*"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.