MARIA BENTA DE LIMA B A R B O S A
B E L L O W ' S V I E W
OF M A N AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY
Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre, Área de Concentração:
Literaturas de Língua Inglesa, do Curso de Pós-Graduação em Letras.
Setor de Ciências Humanas, Letras e Artes da Universidade Federal do Paraná.
C U R I T I B A
1979
D o u t o r HERIBERTO ARNS T i t u l a r de L i t e r a t u r a N o r t e - A m e r i c a n a da U n i v e r s i d a d e F e d e r a l
do P a r a n a .
A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S
O u r . d é b t h to o u r t u t o r for h i s aid and w i s e g u i d a n c e d u r i n g this r e s e a r c h . O u r g r a t i t u d e a l s o to all t h o s e w h o h â v e c o n t r i b u t e d to m a k e
this w o r k p o s s i b l e .
C O N T E N T S
P a g e
R e s u m o . . . v A b s t r a c t . . . . vi i
1. I N T R O D U C T I O N 1 2. T H E A U T H O R A N D S O C I A L R E A L I T Y .
T h e I n d i v i d u a l a n d the S o c i a l P r o c e s s IT
S o c i a l P h e n o m e n o n a n d the Novel 17
M e t h o d o l o g i c a l A p p r o a c h 23 S o c i o l o g i c a l C o n c e p t i o n s of C o n t e m p o r a r y Society 3 5
E s p e c i a l F o c u s i n g on R e l e v a n t A s p e c t s of Con
t e m p o r a r y S o c i e t y 4 3 3. H E R Z O G : IN S E A R C H O F A S Y N T H E S I S
H e r z o g : A Novel of I d e a s 54
H e r z o g vs M a d e l e i n e 65 H e r z o g ' s A c t u a l W o r l d 85 A D i a l e c t of P a s t a n d P r e s e n t 102
H e r z o g ' s W a y i n t o C l a r i t y 115
R e a c h i n g a- S y n t h e s i s 1 6 3 4. C O N C L U S I O N 1 79
Bi bl i o g r a p h i cal . R e f e r e n ces ^ ^
i v
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G r a n d e p a r t e da c r í t i c a s o b r e os r o m a n c e s de B e l l o w fo c a l i z a sua p r e o c u p a ç ã o c o m o h o m e m c o n t e m p o r â n e o c o m o um indi v í d u o . E s t e e s t u d o e uma t e n t a t i v a de m o s t r a r a v i s ã o de B e l l o w do h o m e m em sua r e l a ç ã o í n t i m a com a s o c i e d a d e ã qual ele p e r t e n c e a t r a v é s da a n a l i s e de um dos s e u s m a i s r e c e n t e s r o m a n c e s — H e r z o g .
A p r i m e i r a p a r t e . d i s c u t e a r e l a ç ã o : a u t o r , r o m a n c e e r e a l i d a d e s o c i a l , c o n s i d e r a n d o a l g u m a s c o n c e p ç õ e s s o c i o l Õ g i cas s o b r e a s o c i e d a d e c o n t e m p o r â n e a e e x p o n d o a m e t o d o l o g i a que s e r v i r a de b a s e p a r a a a n a l i s e do r o m a n c e — o e s t r u t u r a l i s m o g e n é t i c o de G o l d m a n n .
A s e g u n d a p a r t e e x a m i n a H e r z o g l i m i t a n d o - s e a a n á l i s e da e s t r u t u r a i n t e r n a do r o m a n c e , r e l a c i o n a n d o seu u n i v e r s o i m a g i n á r i o aos p a d r õ e s da s o c i e d a d e c a p i t a l i s t a c o n t e m p o r â n e a . Ao nível da a ç ã o , uma e s t r u t u r a s i g n i f i c a t i v a m a i s a b r a n g e n t e é r e c o n h e c i d a no u n i v e r s o do r o m a n c e , e d i s c u t i d a em t e r m o s de uma h o m o l o g i a e n t r e e l a e a e s t r u t u r a da s o c i e d a d e . 0 nível m a i s p r o f u n d o do r o m a n c e , o da c o n s c i ê n c i a de H e r z o g , e a s í n t e s e que e l e p r o c u r a s ã o t a m b é m dis cuti dos nés ta p a r t e , m o s t r a n d o os c o m e n t a r i o s de Bel 1 o w / H e r z o g s o b r e o
h o m e m e a s o c i e d a d e c o n t e m p o r â n e a .
0 e s t u d o c o n c l u è com a a f i r m a ç ã o de q u e H e r z o g n ã o s o m e n t e r e p r e s e n t a o h o m e m c o n t e m p o r â n e o no c o n f l i t o e n t r e o i n d i v í d u o e a s o c i e d a d e c o m o t a m b é m r e p r e s e n t a a voz de B e l l o w em s u a s r e f l e x õ e s p r o f u n d a s s o b r e a h i s t o r i a , f i l o s o f i a e s o c i e d a d e .
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ABSTRACT
Much o f the c r i t i c a l a t t e n t i o n f o c u s e d on B e l l o w ' s n o v e l s d e a l s w i t h h i s p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h c o n t e m p o r a r y man as an i n d i v i d u a l . T h i s s t u d y i s an a t t e m p t to show B e l l o w ' s view of man i n h i s c l o s e r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h c o n t e m p o r a r y so c i e t y t h r o u g h e x a m i n i n g one o f h i s most r e c e n t n o v e l s H e r z o g .
The f i r s t p a r t d i s c u s s e s the r e l a t i o n s h i p : a u t h o r , n o v e l and s o c i a l r e a l i t y c o n s i d e r i n g some s o c i o l o g i c a l con c e p t i o n s o f c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y as w e l l as e x p o u n d i n g the m e t h o d o l o g i c a l a p p r o a c h w h i c h s e r v e d as the b a s i s f o r the a n a l y s i s o f the novel — G o l d m a n n ' s g e n e t i c s t r u c t u r a l i s m ^
The s e c o n d p a r t d e a l s w i t h the e x a m i n i n g o f Herzog l i m i t i n g to the a n a l y s i s o f the i n t e r n a l s t r u c t u r e o f the n o v e l , r e l a t i n g i t s i m a g i n a r y u n i v e r s e to the p a t t e r n s o f c o n t e m p o r a r y c a p i t a l i s t s o c i e t y . At the l e v e l of a c t i o n , a main m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e i s d e t a c h e d from the u n i v e r s e o f the n o v e l and d i s c u s s e d i n terms o f a homology between t h i s s t r u t u r e and the s t r u t u r e o f s o c i e t y . The deeper l e v e l o f the n o v e l , t h a t o f H e r z o g ' s c o n s c i e n c e , and the s y n t h e s i s he p u r s u e s are a l s o d i s c u s s e d i n t h i s p a r t , d i s p l a y i n g
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Bel 1 o w / H e r z o g ' s c o m m e n t a r i e s on m a n a n d c o n t e m p o r a r y society.
The s t u d y c o n c l u d e s w i t h the a s s u m p t i o n t h a t n o t o n l y does H e r z o g s t a n d f o r the c o n t e m p o r a r y m a n in the c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n the i n d i v i d u a l a n d s o c i e t y » b u t a l s o . r e p r e s e n t s B e l l o w ' s v o i c e in his d e e p r e f l e c t i o n s on hi s t o r y , p h i 1 o s o p h y a n d s o c i e t y .
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1. I N T R O D U C T I O N
Saul B e l l o w , the c o n t e m p o r a r y A m e r i c a n w r i t e r a w a r d e d the Nobel P r i z e f o r L i t e r a t u r e in 1 9 7 6 , a u t h o r of n o v e l s , p l a y s a n d s h o r t s t o r i e s , .has b e e n e x h a u s t i v e l y studied lately, b o t h f o r his s t y l e a n d his c o n s c i o u s i n v o l v e m e n t w i t h the p r o b l e m s of c o n t e m p o r a r y m a n . W . J . S e w e l l s a y s that "Saul Bellow r e p r e s e n t s a p o s t - m o d e r n w r i t e r , t h a t i s , a w r i t e r w h o s e f i c t i o n has t u r n e d a w a y f r o m a c o n c e r n w i t h s o c i a l v a l u e s to e m b r a c e the i n n e r v a l u e s of the i n d i v i d u a l , "1 I n d e e d , the c r i t i c a l s t u d i e s of Saul B e l l o w as a w r i t e r a n d t h o s e of t h i s l i t e r a r y w o r k w h i c h we h a v e e x a m i n e d , i n c l u d i n g e s s a y s , ar t i d e s , a n d d o c t o r a l t h e s e s , a r e m a i n l y o r i e n t e d t o w a r d s the i d e a of B e l l o w ' s b e i n g an " i n w a r d - t u r n i n g w r i t e r , "2c o m m i t t e d to the a f f i r m a t i o n of the i n d i v i d u a l .
P a t r i c i a W. W i l l i a m s a s s e r t s t h a t " m u c h of thecritical a t t e n t i o n f o c u s e d on t h e e i g h t n o v e l s of Saul B e l l o w d e a l s w i t h the p h i l o s o p h y he d e v e l o p s . "3 T h i s p h i l o s o p h y is t h a t of the g e n e r a l a f f i r m a t i o n of his t h o u g h t in o p p o s i t i o n to the c u r r e n t l i t e r a r y n i h i l i s m we f i n d in the m o s t p r o m i n e n t w r i t e r s of the f i r s t h a l f of t h i s c e n t u r y , a n d w h i c h e n t e r e d
the s e c o n d h a l f w i t h conspicuous, r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , b o t h in the t h e a t h e r a n d in the n o v e l . In his c r e e d of a p o s i t i v e affirm a t i o n of l i f e , B e l l o w p l a c e s s u p r e m e v a l u e on the individual, w h o m he c o n s i d e r s c a p a b l e of s e l f - r e a l i z a t i o n , t h r o u g h u n c o n d i t i o n a l f r e e d o m of the s p i r i t ; t h i s a b s o l u t e f r e e d o m b e i n g 'the s t a t e at w h i c h B e l l o w ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s a r r i v e a f t e r fighting o u t all the c o n d i t i o n s i m p o s e d on t h e m , r e a c h i n g t h u s a t r u e r e c o n c i l i a t i o n of the s e l f , in the w o r d s of S e w e l l , " t h r o u g h an a l i e n a t i o n - r e c o n c i l i a t i o n p a t t e r n , " w h i c h c o n s i s t s of
" t e m p o r a r y s e p a r a t i o n f r o m s o c i a l c o n f o r m i t y as a means towards a p r i v a t e r e c o n c i l i a t i o n w i t h soei e ty and. t h e r e i n reconcil iation w i t h the self."1* M u c h of the c r i t i c i s m on B e l l o w t e n d s to see his w o r k in the l i g h t of t h i s p a t t e r n , with social! aspects b e i n g p a r t of i t , b u t n o t the m a i n c o n c e r n .
T h i s s t u d y , n o t q u e s t i o n i n g w h a t has b e e n written about B e l l o w , w h i c h s h o w s a g e n e r a l t e n d e n c y to c o n s i d e r h i m as a w r i t e r w o r r i e d a b o u t m e t a p h y s i c a l a n d e t h i c a l i s s u e s , a i m s to d i s c u s s his v i e w of m a n in c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y , e x a m i n i n g one of his m o r e r e c e n t novel s : H e r z o g . T h u s i n s t e a d of being worried about the self we will be seeing man as a social person,as part o f s o c i e t y .
On r e a c h i n g t h i s m a i n p u r p o s e — the a p p r e h e n s i o n of B e l l o w ' s v i e w of m a n in c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y — w e a l s o h o p e to h a v e s h o w n B e l l o w as a n o v e l i s t d e e p l y e n g a g e d in universal p r o b l e m s , w o r r i e d a b o u t the d e s t i n y of h u m a n i t y , a f a c t t h a t p l a c e s h i m a m o n g m a j o r c o n t e m p o r a r y w r i t e r s .
T h e two a s p e c t s t h a t m a k e up the c o r e of t h i s s t u d y , a n d h e l p s u p p o r t the c h o i c e of H e r z o g , the n o v e l w e will
3 e x a m i n e , are B e l l o w ' s w i d e - r e a c h i n g s o c i a l c o n c e r n , s h o w n in his n o v e l s , a n d his r e j e c t i o n of a p o c a l y p t i c , nihilistic views on m a n a n d s o c i e t y . His w o r k is f i l l e d w i t h a wealth of social o b s e r v a t i o n s . His n o v e l s g i v e us an a c c u r a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a s e t of s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a t one p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t in h i s t o r y — the c o n t e m p o r a r y w o r l d . T h i s f a c t is w h a t aroused o u r i n t e r e s t in d e t e c t i n g his v i e w of s o c i e t y through studying the s t r u c t u r e of one of his n o v e l s , n a m e l y H e r z o g .
We c o u l d e x t e n d to B e l l o w w h a t Z e r a f f a s a i d of J o y c e , M a n n a n d M a l t r a u x , w h e n s t a t i n g t h a t t h e y p r a c t i c e a k i n d of i m a g i n a t i v e s o c i o l o g y ; B e l l o w , t o o , is " a b l e to g r a s p by em p a t h y w h a t the s o c i o l o g i s t or h i s t o r i a n d e a l s w i t h in t e r m s of f a c t s or c o n c e p t s . "5 F o r Z e r a f f a , the f o r m a n d c o n t e n t of the n o v e l d e r i v e m o r e d i r e c t l y f r o m s o c i a l p h e n o m e n a t h a n do t h o s e of o t h e r a r t s ,6 a n d B e l l o w ' s n o v e l s are good evidence of t h i s a s s e r t i o n . T h e y s h o w his c o m m i t m e n t to m a n a n d his r o l e in s o c i e t y , a n d f r o m the first,they..have shown, w i t h o u t any d o u b t , a p o w e r of s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l , a n d i d e o l o g i c a l c o n t e s t a t i o n . As o b s e r v e d by W i l l i a n D. M a r k o s , "Bellow's d e s i r e to h a v e his v i s i o n of l i f e u n d i s t o r t e d by 1 i terary fashion requires r e l i a n c e on the p o w e r s of o b s e r v a t i on a n d critical thinking."7
Bellow being a city writer, his main characters are searchers in the c i t y . It is t h e i n d i v i d u a l s e a r c h for self and reality t h a t d r i v e s t h e m . T h a t m a y be the r e a s o n f o r m o s t criticism on B e l l o w to be o r i e n t e d t o w a r d s the s e l f . But Bellow's creative v i s i o n of the c i t y ' s p o s s i b i l i t i e s is i m p r e g n a t e d with social a n d i d e o l o g i c a l c o m m e n t s . T h e r e is a l w a y s a direct relationship b e t w e e n the c h a o s of the c i t y a n d his p r o t a g o n i s t s 1 own f r a g
merited c o n d i t i o n , so t h a t his m a i n c h a r a c t e r s are s e a r c h e r s not o n l y f o r the r e a l i t y of s e l f b u t a l s o of s o c i e t y .
T h e city is the a r e n a in w h i c h B e l l o w ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s a c t , a n d t h r o u g h t h e i r a c t i n g a n d t h e i r r e f l e c t i o n s t h e y d i s p l a y the a u t h o r ' s own v i e w of s o c i a l r e a l i t y , s h o w i n g a s o c i e t y of i n c r e a s i n g c o n s u m e r i s m , w i t h its f a l s e c o n c e p t s of p r o g r e s s a n d p r o s p e r i t y . T h u s the s t r u g g l e b e t w e e n the p r o t a g o n i s t ' s h u m a n i s m a n d s o c i a l p a t t e r n s is a p o i n t in c o m m o m in al 1 his novel s.
In D a n g l i n g M a n , B e l l o w ' s f i r s t n o v e l , w e see t h r o u g h J o s e p h , the p r o t a g o n i s t , the a t t e m p t of the i n d i v i d u a l to e s t a b l i s h a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h the w o r l d w h e r e t h e i n d i v i dual can r e m a i n h i m s e l f w i t h o u t s u c c u m b i n g to s o c i e t y ' s v a l u e s . In T h e V i c t i m , as T o n y T a n n e r p o i n t s o u t , the p r o t a g o n i s t ' s
" d e e p e r f e a r c o m e s f r o m an u n c e r t a i n t y a b o u t his p o s i t i o n and stabi1 ity in the c r u e l , i n d i f f e r e n t c h a o s of the m o d e r n c i t y . "8 T h e a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t of t h e u r b a n m a s s e s is a g r e a t l e a p f o r w a r d in the p r o t a g o n i s t ' s c o m i n g to t e r m s w i t h the c i t y . T h e A d v e n t u r e s of A u g i e M a r c h s h o w s A u g i e f o r the f i r s t h a l f of the b o o k a c c e p t i n g t h e c i t y un criti c a l l y , b u t t h e r e is a s h i f t in the novel a n d by the e n d A u g i e ' s d i s i l l u s i o n m e n t w i t h C h i c a g o is c o m p l e t e . In S e i z e the D a y , Dr. A d l e r p e r s o n i f i e s s o c i a l p r e s s u r e s i n h e r e n t in the u r b a n s e t t i n g w h i l e W i l h e l m , the p r o t a g o n i s t , r e j e c t s the m a t e r i a l i s t i c w o r l d . L i k e A u g i e , W i 1 h e l m is s u r r o u n d e d by m a c h i a v e l l i a n u r b a n t y p e s w h o use h i m . In H e n d e r s o n the R a i n K i n g , w e see the p r o t a g o n i s t try ing to e s c a p e the p r e s s u r e s of society, and going to Africa, where he still "thinks in city
5 m e t a p h o r s a n d of c i t y e v e n t s ; the c i t y m a n t a i n its pressures, a n d a l i v e w i t h i n his o t h e r e s p e c u l a t i o n s is the c i t y i d e a of p e o p l e , n a m e l e s s , f a c e l e s s , w i t h w h o m no c o m m u n i c a t i o n is p o s s i b l e . "9 M r . S a m m l e r ' s P l a n e t s h o w s us a p r o t a g o n i s t w h o has p u t his f a i t h in r e a s o n , b u t w h o fin'ds h i m s e l f in an i n c r e a s i n g l y u n r e a s o n a b l e w o r l d , w h o s e e s i n t e l l e c t u a l m a n as an e x p l a i n i n g c r e a t u r e , b u t w h o can find..no e x p l a n a t i o n f o r the s o c i e t y he s e e s a b o u t h i m . T h e novel is full of social c o m m e n t s m a d e ' b y the i n t e l l e c t u a l S a m m l e r9a n d i m a g e s of the c i t y a r e u s e d , t h r o u g h o u t the novel to r e f l e c t his m o o d s of s a r c a s m , d e s p a i r a n d f e a r t o w a r d s s o c i a l p r e s s u r e s . H u m b o l d t ' s G i f t , B e l l o w ' s l a t e s t novel »exposes society itself, as a b a t t l e f i e l d f o r the p r o t a g o n i s t . T h e r e he i s , n o t o n l y in h i s t o r y b u t in his m i l i e u * w o r r i e d a b o u t the m e a n i n g of life a n d d e a t h . ^ It s h o w s an a c t u a l c o m m i t m e n t to contemporary 1 i fe,. t h r o u g h a m o r e d e f y i n g i n v o l v e m e n t of the p r o t a g o n i s t in the c i t y c o m m u n i t y .
B e s i d e s a p l a y a n d a n u m b e r of s h o r t s t o r i e s , B e l l o w has w r i t t e n e i g h t n o v e l s , the o n e s w e h a v e j u s t made comments o n , a n d the one w e h a v e s e l e c t e d f o r the purpose of this study:
H e r z o g . S i n c e all Bel 1 ow ' s -novel s m i r r o r c o n t e m p o r a r y social r e a l i t y , w e t h i n k it r e l e v a n t to g i v e a reason for our choosing H e r z o g . W i t h t h i s novel B e l l o w b e g i n s to d e v e l o p a n e w s t y l e in his p r o s e , a n d a d i f f e r e n t c h a r a c t e r a p p e a r e d f o r his p r o t a g o n i s t . His s t y l e b e c a m e c l o s e to t h a t of the e s s a y i s t a n d s o c i a l l y c o n s c i o u s t h i n k e r , a n d his p r o t a g o n i s t b e c a m e m o r e r a t i o n a l , c o n s c i o u s a n d c r i t i c a l . H e r z o g is p a r t of the i n t e l l e c t u a l - a c a d e m i c w o r l d ; t h u s the v a l u e p l a c e d on
a w a r e n e s s , w h i c h m a y be c o n s i d e r e d the m a i n o b j e c t i v e of B e l l o w ' s p r o t a g o n i s t , is m o r e e v i d e n t in this novel . H e r z o g is m o r e c o n s c i o u s a n d s e l f - c r i t i c a l t h a n his p r e d e c e s s o r s . H e a l s o c o n f r o n t s a l m o s t e v e r y i s s u e r a i s e d in Bel 1 ow's previous f i c t i o n . B e l l o w ' s o w n w o r d s g i v e us evidence of his development.
He s a i d :
In w r i t i n g H e r z o g , I f e l t I w a s c o m p l e t i n g a c e r t a i n d e v e l o p m e n t , c o m i n g , to t h e end of a l i t e r a r y s e n s i b i l i t y . T h i s s e n s i b i l i t y implies a c e r t a i n a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s civilization— a n o m a l y , e s t r a n g e m e n t , the o u t s i d e r , the c o l l a p s e of h u m a n i s m . W h a t I'm a g a i n s t is a n o v e l of p u r e l y l i t e r a r y d e r i v a t i o n — a c c e p t i n g t h e c a n n o n of J o y c e and K a f k a . W i t h D ö s t o y e v s k y , at l e a s t , h i s e y e s a r e t u r n e d f r e s h l y to the h u m a n s c e n e .1 0
In H e r z o g we t e s t i f y , . t h r o u g h the l e t t e r s and internal m o n o l o g u e s , n o t o n l y a bri11 i a n t cri ti q u e on the v a l u e s a n d p r o b l e m s of o u r s o c i e t y b u t a l s o , as w e h a v e s a i d , a r e j e c t i o n of the n i h i l i s t i c p h i l o s o p h i e s , in f a v o r of a p o s i t i v e
a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s m o d e r n c i v i l i z a t i o n . H e r z o g ' s understanding of the " s o c i a l m e a n i n g of n o t h i n g n e s s "1 1 is v e r y significant.
F o r h i m , m a n ' s a w a r e n e s s of n o t h i n g n e s s , far f r o m b e i n g a c a u s e for d e s p a i r and d e n i a l of all v a l u e , s h o u l d g i v e h i m a . h e i g h t e n e d r e a l i z a t i o n of the v a l u e of s o c i a l relationships.
As W i l l i a m D. M a r k o s s a y s , " B e l l o w c a l l e d f o r w r i t e r s to see l i f e d i r e c t l y r a t h e r t h a n a c c e p t v i e w s of l i f e p e r p e t u a t e d by the t r a d i t i o n of a p e s s i m i s t i c 1 i t e r a t u r e . "-12
O u r p u r p o s e in g r a s p i n g the a u t h o r ' s v i e w of s o c i e t y t h r o u g h t h e c r i t i c a l a n a l y s i s of his novel is m a i n l y b a s e d on the s t u d i e s of L u c i e n G o l d m a n n , w h o states that the author's w o r l d v i e w , w h i c h " n o t o n l y c o n s t i t u t e s an a s s e r t i o n of a t r u t h b u t is a p r e c i s e r e f l e c t i o n , a q u e s t i o n i n g of the entire
7 w o r l d , "1 3 is e l a b o r a t e d by the s o c i a l g r o u p he b e l o n g s i n , t h o u g h o n l y h_e can a c h i e v e an a d v a n c e d d e g r e e of c o h e r e n c e , g i v i n g t h e w o r k of f i c t i o n a c h a r a c t e r ..at., .once c o l l e c t i v e a n d i n d i v i d u a l . T h u s the i m a g i n a r y u n i v e r s e of i n d i v i d u a l s and p a r t i c u l a r s i t u a t i o n s c r e a t e d by the a u t h o r , s h o w i n g his w o r l d v i e w , is the t r a n s p o s i t i o n i n t o a p l a n e of i m a g i n a r y c r e a t i o n of. the m e n t a l c a t e g o r i e s of a social g r o u p .
A c c e p t i n g G o l d m a n n ' s a r g u m e n t w h i c h will be d i s c u s s e d in m o r e detail in the f i r s t p a r t of t h i s s t u d y , w e will be a c c e p t i n g w h a t c a n be e x p r e s s e d by the h o m o l o g y : t h e r e l a t i o n w h i c h e x i s t s b e t w e e n B e l l o w a n d the s o c i a l r e a l i t y he is p a r t of c o r r e s p o n d s to the r e l a t i o n w h i c h e x i s t s b e t w e e n H e r z o g a n d the u n i v e r s e of the n o v e l , w h i c h s h o w s Bel 1 ow's world view.
T h i s a s s u m p t i o n e n a b l e s us to b e l i e v e t h a t Herzog's reflections and q u e s t i o n i n g s t h r o u g h o u t the novel are B e l l o w ' s o w n , so t h a t H e r z o g ' s v i e w of c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y is B e l l o w ' s o w n vi ew.
T h e s t u d y will be d i v i d e d in two p a r t s : t h è - f i r s t will deal w i t h the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n a u t h o r , novel a n d s o c i a l r e a l i t y , a n d - m o r e d e t a i l s a b o u t the s u p p o r t i n g m e t h o d o l o g y will be s u p p l i e d ; the s e c o n d p a r t will deal w i t h the intrinsic a n a l y s i s of H e r z o g , w i t h the a i m of del i neating s i gni f i cati ve s t r u c t u r e s , i m m a n e n t in the u n i v e r s e of the novel ,and relating t h e m to t h o s e in s o c i e t y . T h u s we h o p e to r e a c h o u r purpuse, w h i c h is to s h o w B e l l o w ' s v i e w of m a n a n d contemporary s o c i e t y .
N O T E S
1S E W E L , W . S . L i t e r a r y S t r u c t u r e and V a l u e J u d g e m e n t in the N o v e l s of S a u l B e l l o w . T h e s i s . P h . D . D u k e U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 7 4 , p . I I I .
2 Ib i d . p. I I I .
W I L L I A M S , P a t r i c i a W h e l a n . S a u l B e l l o w ' s F i c t i o n : A C r i t i c a l Q u e s t i o n . T h e s i s . P h . D . T e x a s , A & M U n i v e r s i t y , 1 9 7 2 , P . I I I .
""Literary S t r u c t u r e and V a l u e J u d g e m e n t in the N o v e l s of S a u l B e l l o w . p . I I I .
5Z E R A F F A . M i c h e l . T h e N o v e l and S o c i a l R e a l i t y . Trans.
C a t h e r i n e B u r n s and T o m B u r n s . M i d d l e s e x , P e g u i n B o o k s , 1 9 76 , p . 4 1 .
6Z Ë R A F F A says that " . . . t h e n o v e l is d i r e c t l y concerned w i t h the n a t u r e of our s i t u a t i o n in h i s t o r y and w i t h the
d i r e c t i o n in w h i c h that s i t u a t i o n is a b o u t to m o v e . ( . . . ) It seems to i m p l y a m e a r n i n g f u l c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n c a s u a l i t y and d e s t i n y : the n o v e l s h o u l d at one and the s a m e time describe w h a t is h a p p e n i n g to u s , e x t r a c t its m e a r n i n g and s i g n p o s t
the d i r e c t i o n in w h i c h w e are g o i n g . ( . . . ) T h e n o v e l , m o r e d i r e c t l y than o t h e r a r t s , c o n f r o n t s us o p e n l y w i t h the i s s u e of the m e a n i n g and v a l u e of our i n e l u c t a b l e h i s t o r i c a l and s o c i a l c o n d i t i o n . I m p l i c i t in the text of the n o v e l are the p r o p o s i t i o n s that m a n n e v e r lives by h i m s e l f , and a b o v e a l l , that he h a s a p a s t , a p r e s e n t and a f u t u r e . " (The N o v e l and S o c i a l R e a l i t y , p p . 1 0 - 1 1 )
7M A R K 0 S , D o n a l d W i l l i a m . T h e H u m a n i s m of Saul B e l l o w . T h e s i s . P h . D . U n i v e r s i t y of I l l i n o i s , 1 9 6 6 , p . 1 1 8 .
8T A N N E R , T o n y . S a u l B e l l o w . L o n d o n . O l i v e r & Boyd,1965, p. 2 7
9K L E I N , M a r c u s . "A D i s c i p l i n e of N ob i 1 i ty : Saul Bellow ' s F i c t i o n . " K e n y o n R e v i e w , 24 ( S p r i n g 1 9 6 2 ) , p. 209
1 0 G A L L O W A Y , D a v i d D . " M o s e s - B l o o m - H e r z o g : Bellow's E v e r y m a n . " T h e S o u t h e r n R e v i e w ( W i n t e r , 1966)* p. 62
1 1 B E L L O W , S a u l . H e r z o g . N e w Y o r k , A v o n B o o k s , 1 9 7 6 .
1 2T h e H u m a n i s m of S a u l B e l l o w , p. 1 4 7
9 1 3 '
G O L D M A N N , L u c i e n . C u l t u r a l C r e a t i o n in M o d e r n Society.
T r a n s . B a r t G r a h l . S a i n t L o u i s , T e l o s P r e s s , L t d . , . 19 76 ,p.78.
T H E A U T H O R A N D S O C I A L R E A L I T Y
11
. C H A P T E R O N E
T H E I N D I V I D U A L A N D T H E S O C I A L P R O C E S S
T h e s o c i o l o g i s t t h i n k s of s o c i a l r e a l i t y as d e n o t i n g a l a r g e c o m p l e x of h u m a n r e l a t i o n s h i p s , or to p u t it a n o t h e r w a y , as r e f e r r i n g to a s y s t e m of i n t e r a c t i o n . T h e c h a r a c t e r of t h i s social p r o c e s s is i n t e r p r e t e d a c c o r d i n g to the s o c i o l o g i c a l t h e o r y t h a t o r i e n t s . the s o c i o l o g i s t . E m i l e D ü r k h e i m1, for i n s t a n c e , the f o u n d e r of the m o s t i m p o r t a n t school of F r e n c h s o c i o l o g y , w h i c h s t a n d s in the t r a d i t i o n of C o m t i a n p o s i t i v i s m , a n d is c h a r a c t e r i z e d by its e m p h a s i s on the n o n - s u b j e c t i v e q u a l i t y of social p h e n o m e n a , e m p h a s i z e d t h a t s o c i e t y w a s a r e a l i t y sui g e n e r i s , t h a t i s , a r e a l i t y t h a t c o u l d n o t be r e d u c e d to or t r a n s l a t e d i n t o o t h e r t e r m s . A c c o r d i n g to h i m , s o c i e t y c o n f r o n t s us as an objective reality
It is e x t e r n a l to o u s e l v e s , s u r r o u n d s u s , e n c o m p a s s e s our life on all s i d e s . We are in s o c i e t y , l o c a t e d in s p e c i f i c s e c t o r s of the social s y s t e m , w h i c h p r e d e t e r m i n e s a n d predefines almost e v e r y t h i n g we do. We are l o c a t e d in s o c i e t y n o t o n l y in space b u t in t i m e . O u r s o c i e t y is an h i s t o r i c a l e n t i t y thatextends t e m p o r a l l y b e y o n d any i n d i v i d u a l b i o g r a p h y , it a n t e d a t e s us
a n d wi11 survi ve us.
M a x W e b e r2, the m o d e r n G e r m a n s o c i o l o g i s t , o p p o s e s D ü r k h e i m in t h a t the p o i n t of d e p a r t u r e of his s o c i o l o g i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n is t h e i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n . By e m p h a s i z i n g the u n d e r s t a n d a b i 1 ity of h u m a n c o n d u c t , as o p p o s e d to the m e r e casual e x p l a n a t i o n of s o c i a l f a c t s as in n a t u r a l s c i e n c e , W e b e r d r a w s the l i n e b e t w e e n his i n t e r p r e t a t i v e s o c i o l o g y , w h i c h c o n s i d e r s t h e i n d i v i d u a l a n d his a c t i o n s as t h e b a s i c u n i t y , a n d D u r k h e i m ' s t r a d i t i o n . D ü r k h e i m . s t r e s s e s the e x t e r n a l i t y a n d o b j e c t i v i t y of s o c i a l r e a l i t y , in r e l a t i o n to the i n d i v i d u a l , w h i l e W e b e r a l w a y s e m p h a s i z e s the s u b j e c t i v e m e a n i n g s , i n t e n t i o n s a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s b r o u g h t i n t o any s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n by the a c t o r s in it. W e b e r , o f c o u r s e , a l s o p o i n t s o u t t h a t w h a t e v e n t u a l l y h a p p e n s in s o c i e t y m a y be v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m w h a t t h e s e a c t o r s m e a n t or i n t e n d e d , as is c l e a r in his t h e s i s on P r o t e s t a n t i s m a n d c a p i t a l i s m , in w h i c h he d e m o n s t r a t e d the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n c e r t a i n c o n s e q u e n c e s of P r o t e s t a n t v a l u e s a n d the d e v e l o p m e n t of the c a p i t a l i s t e t h o s : the p u r i t a n w i s h e d to s e r v e G o d , b u t he h e l p e d to b r i n g a b o u t m o d e r n c a p i t a l i s m . H o w e v e r , h e a s s e r t s t h a t t h i s e n t i r e s u b j e c t i v e d i m e n s i o n m u s t be t a k e n into c o n s i d e r a t i o n for an a d e q u a t e s o c i o l o g i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g , w h i c h i n v o l v e s the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of m e a n i n g s p r e s e n t in s o c i e t y . In t h i s v i e w , e a c h social s i t u a t i o n is s u s t a i n e d by the f a b r i c of m e a n i n g s t h a t are b r o u g h t i n t o it by the v a r i o u s p a r t i e i p a n t s .
In the D u r k h e i m i a n p e r s p e c t i v e , to l i v e in s o c i e t y m e a n s . t o e x i s t u n d e r the d o m i n a t i o n ot s o c i e t y ' s l o g i c , and
13
t h i s a p p r o a c h has b e e n c a r r i e d o v e r i n t o the t h e o r e t i c a l a p p r o a c h now c a l l e d f u n c t i o n a l i s m . In f u n c t i o n a l a n a l y s i s , s o c i e t y is a n a l y s e d in t e r m s of its o w n f u n c t i o n i n g as a s y s t e m , f u n c t i o n i n g t h a t is o f t e n o b s c u r e or o p a q u e to t h o s e a c t i n g w i t h i n the s y s t e m . T h e c o n t e m p o r a r y A m e r i c a n s o c i o l o g i s t R o b e r t M e r t o n3, has e x p r e s s e d t h i s a p p r o a c h well in his c o n c e p t s of " m a n i f e s t " a n d " l a t e n t " f u n c t i o n s . T h e f o r m e r are the c o n s c i o u s a n d d e l i b e r a t e f u n c t i o n s of s o c i a l p r o c e s s , t h e l a t t e r , the u n c o n s c i o u s a n d uni n t e n d e d . o n e s . Thus, for instance, Christian missions in parts of Africa "manifestly" try to c o n v e r t A f r i c a n s to C h r i s t i a n i t y , " l a t e n t l y " h e l p to d e s t r o y the
i n d i g e n o u s t r i b a l c u l t u r e s a n d t h u s p r o v i d e a d r i v i n g f o r c e t o w a r d s r a p i d s o c i a l t r a n s f o r m a t i o n .
M a x W e b e r , in his m e t h o d o l o g i c a l e m p h a s i s u p o n u n d e r s t a n d i n g the i n d i v i d u a l as the u l t i m a t e u n i t of e x p l a n a t i o n , a t t a c k s the f u n c t i o n a l i s t a p p r o a c h as well as the M a r x ist use of o b j e c t i v e m e a n i n g s of social a c t i o n r e g a r d l e s s of the a w a r e n e s s of t h e a c t o r . M a r x a s c r i b e s m e a n i n g s to the process of social i n t e r a c t i o n s a n d W e b e r r e j e c t s the a s s u m p t i o n of any o b j e c t i v e m e a n i n g . He w i s h e s to r e s t r i et the understanding a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of m e a n i n g to the s u b j e c t i v e i n t e n t i o n s of the a c t o r , a l t h o u g h , in his a c t u a l w o r k , as we h a v e i l l u s t r a t e d , he s h o w s a w a r e n e s s of t h e p a r a d o x i c a l f a c t t h a t the r e s u l t s of i n t e r a c t i o n s are n o t a l w a y s i d e n t i c a l w i t h w h a t the a c t o r i n t e n d e d to do.
W h a t we h a v e b e e n t r y i n g to do as an 'introduction'-to t h i s f i r s t p a r t of o u r s t u d y is to g i v e a v e r y g e n e r a l i d e a
of the m a i n s o c i o l o g i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n s c o n c e r n i n g t h e parti ci pati on .'of • the i n d i v i d u a l in the s o c i a l p r o c e s s , s i n c e o u r s t u d y d e a l s w i t h the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n m a n a n d s o c i a l r e a l i t y . H o w e v e r , as t h i s s t u d y is of l i t e r a t u r e , w e do n o t t h i n k it r e l e v a n t to go m o r e d e e p l y into t h i s f i e l d . O u r p u r p o s e is o n l y to s h o w how the m a i n s o e i o l o g i c a l t r e n d s see t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p , b e f o r e w e get i n t o o u r a c t u a l a i m : the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the a u t h o r a n d s o c i a l r e a l i t y . One m o r e s o c i o l o g i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n , t h a t of the soci ol ogy of knowledge/
we t h i n k m i g h t be r e l e v a n t to m e n t i o n , s i n c e the novel w e are s t u d y i n g in t h i s p a p e r d e a l s w i t h p h i l o s o p h i c a l i s s u e s . The t e r m s o c i o l o g y of k n o w l e d g e w a s f i r s t c o i n e d in the 1920s by the G e r m a n p h i l o s o p h e r M a x S c h e l e r a n d the b a s i c reference for t h i s o r i e n t a t i o n in c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i o l o g y is Karl M a n h e i m ' s I d e o l o g y a n d Utopia1*. T h e w a y the s o c i o l o g y of k n o w l e d g e f i t s i n t o o u r c o m m e n t s is by s h o w i n g us t h a t ideas as well as m e n are s o c i a l l y l o c a t e d . Thi s sociological t r e n d r e j e c t s the c l a i m t h a t t h o u g h t o c c u r s in i s o l a t i o n f r o m the social c o n t e x t w i t h i n w h i c h p a r t i c u l a r m e n t h i n k a b o u t par t i c u l a r t h i n g s . E v e n in the c a s e of v e r y a b s t r a c t ideas that s e e m i n g l y h a v e l i t t l e s o c i a l c o n n e c t i o n , the s o c i o l o g y of k n o w l e d g e a t t e m p t s to d r a w the l i n e f r o m the t h o u g h t to t h e t h i n k e r to his s o c i a l w o r l d . T h i s a p p r o a c h in s o c i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s has m u c h to do w i t h w h a t w e will be d e v e l o p i n g in t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n , in w h i c h we will b e . d e a l i n g ' w i t h the s a m e kind of. relationship, s i nee the novel we will be s t u d y i n g is a novel of i d e a s , in w h i c h the p r o t a g o n i s t is a s c h o l a r .
A s . w e h a v e s t a t e d , the a b o v e i n t r o d u c t o r y c o m m e n t s
on the m a i n m o d e r n s o c i o l o g i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n s in r e l a t i o n to m a n a n d s o c i e t y s e r v e o n l y to i n t r o d u c e our s t u d y o f the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the a u t h o r , the s u b j e c t of a c t i o n , a n d the l i v i n g social r e a l i t y he is p a r t o f , f o r w h a t w e will be t r y i n g to s h o w is t h a t the c r e a t o r of a w o r k of a r t , in o u r c a s e a w r i t e r , d e r i v e s t h e raw m a t e r i a l f o r his c r e a t i o n f r o m t h e a c t u a l s o c i a l real i t y , e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e n the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n h i m , a s o c i a l i n d i v i d u a l , s o c i e t y a n d the novel i t s e l f .
N O T E S
DÜ R K H E I M, Ë m i l e . T h e R u l e s of S o c i o l o g i c a l M e t h o d . C h i c a g o , F r e e P r e s s , 1950.
2 • • • A l l the c o m m e n t s on M a x W e b e r s s o c i o l o g y , m this c h a p t e r , are b a s e d on G E R T H , H . H . and M I L L S , C. W r i g h t . F r o m M a x W e b e r : E s s a y s in S o c i o l o g y . N e w Y o r k , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 4 6 .
3M E R T 0 N , R o b e r t . S o c i a l T h e o r y and S o c i a l Structure.
C h i c a g o , T h e F r e e P r e s s of G l e n c o e , 1 9 5 7 .
40 u r c o m m e n t s on s o c i o l o g y of k n o w l e d g e are b a s e d on M A N H E I M , K a r l . I d e o l o g i a e U l o p i a . T r a n s . S e r g i o M a g a lhaes S a n t e i r o . R i o de J a n e i r o , Z a h a r E d i t o r e s , 1 9 7 2 .
1?
C H A P T E R TWO
S O C I A L P H E N O M E N O N A N D THE N O V E L
O u r p u r p o s e in e s t a b l i s h i n g a r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the w r i t e r a n d his s o c i e t y is m a i n l y i n f l u e n c e d by the s t u d i e s of L u c i e n G o l d m a n n and Michel Z e r a f f a w h o deal w i t h the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n social reality, a n d l i t e r a t u r e . M i c h e l Z e r a f f a in his book T h e Novel and Social Reality-1 p r e s e n t s a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s t u d y of the r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n the novel and social r e a l i t y , s t r e s s i n g t h r o u g h o u t his w o r k t h a t a l t h o u g h the novel is r o o t e d in social r e a l i t y , it keeps its unre d u c e a b l e a s p e c t — it is a e s p e c i f i c a r t i s t i c form.In chapter one — "The novel as Both L i t e r a r y F o r m a n d . S o c i a l I n s t i t u t i o n , " he a s s e r t s the c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n the novel and s o c i e t y as well as its i r r e d u c i bi 1 i ty to o t h e r t e r m s .He begins by s a y i n g t h a t "the f o r m and the c o n t e n t of the novel derive more d i r e c t l y f r o m social p h e n o m e n a t h a n o t h e r - a r t s , e x c e p t p e r h a p s c i n e m a ; " for h i m , " n o v e l s o f t e n s e e m b o u n d up w i t h p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t s in the h i s t o r y of • s o c i e t y " (1,7). The n o v e l i s t can t h e r e f o r e , a c c o r d i n g to h i m , be r e g a r d e d as an a u t h e n t i c i n t e r p r e t e r of the social r e a l i t y of his time; the f o r m s a n d the a c t i o n s of s o c i e t y p r o v i d e a model for the
f o r m s and the a c t i o n s of the n o v e l . Henry James to whom Zeraffa r e f e r s t h r o u g h o u t the c h a p t e r w e h a v e m e n t i o n e d a b o v e , at the e n d of the l a s t c e n t u r y , had a l r e a d y a k n o w l e d g e d the close c o n n e c t i o n of the novel w i t h 1 i v i n g s o e i e t y . He s a y s in his e s s a y " T h e A r t of F i c t i o n " t h a t " t h e o n l y r e a s o n f o r the e x i s t e n c e of a novel i.s,that is does a t t e m p t to r e p r e s e n t l i f e . A novel is in its b r o a d e s t d e f i ni ti on a p e r s o n a l , a d i r e c t
i m p r e s s i o n of l i f e . "2 In the s a m e e s s a y , he s a y s t h a t "one w r i t e s the n o v e l , one p a i n t s the p i c t u r e of o n e ' s l a n g u a g e and of o n e ' s t i m e , "3 w h i c h r e l a t e s a r t in g e n e r a l to h i s t o r y a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y to s o c i e t y .
Z e r a f f a , c o n n e c t i n g the novel to s o c i a l reality,relates the w r i t e r ' s c r e a t i v e m a n i f e s t a t i o n to the m i l i e u he is part of. F o r h i m , the novel g i v e s us an a c c u r a t e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of a s e t of s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s at one p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t in h i s t o r y , a n d h o w e v e r a c c u r a t e the wri ter ' s knowledge of reality,, w h i c h he r e p r e s e n t s in his l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n , he does not cease
to a t t r i b u t e to this r e a l i t y a s i g n i f i c a n c e w h i c h he d e r i v e s f r o m the w o r l d v i e w of the social m i l i e u in w h i c h he had b e e n b r o u g h t up. Z e r a f f a r e m i n d s us t h a t n o v e l i s t s l i k e J o y c e , M a n n a n d M a l r a u x , w h e n c r e a t i n g t h e i r li.terary universe, p r a c t i c e a k i n d of s o c i o l o g y , in the s e n s e t h a t t h e y are a b l e to g r a s p by e m p a t h y w h a t the s o e i o l o g i s t or h i s t o r i a n deal w i t h in t e r m s of f a c t s or c o n c e p t s . "The v a l u e of the n o v e l " , he a s s e r t s , " s e e m s to b e l o n g p r i m a r i l y to the f a c t t h a t it is the a r t f o r m w h i c h g i v e s t h e f u l l e s t a n d m o s t p r o f o u n d a c c o u n t of the s t a t u s of the i n d i v i d u a l at any t i m e in hi s t o r y " ( Z , 6 6 ) . H e c o n t i n u e s his a r g u m e n t , on the s a m e p a g e , s a y i n g t h a t "to say
19 t h a t a novel is c o m p o s e d e s s e n t i a l l y of c h a r a c t e r s means that the w r i t e r e m b o d i e s in t h e m the s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s w h i c h he has m o s t f r e q u e n t l y s e e n a n d e x p e r i e n c e d : " He l e a v e s it c l e a r t h o u g h , in the f i r s t c h a p t e r of his b o o k , t h a t "the f o r m s of f i c t i o n h a v e t h e i r o w n h i s t o r y , w h i c h c a n n o t be r e n d e r e d in t e r m s of h i s t o r y any m o r e t h a n of ' s o c i e t y ' : "
(Z,9) T h u s , the n o v e l i s t , a c c o r d i n g to Z e r a f f a ' s a r g u m e n t s , m u s t be c o n s i d e r e d as a b s o l u t e l y an a r t i s t ; his w o r k is the e x p r e s s i o n of a r e a l i t y w h i c h a l r e a d y has in his m i n d a f o r m a n d a m e a n i n g w h i c h is e x p r e s s e d by m e a n s of t e c h n i q u e s . In t h i s s e n s e , the w r i t e r ' s p e r c e p t i o n of s o c i e t y is transformed in the novel i n t o a r t i s t i c p e r c e p t i o n . Z e r a f f a g i v e s us some p r a c t i c a l e x a m p l e s f o r his a r g u m e n t s , f r o m w h i c h w e c h o s e t h a t of U l y s s e s , w h i c h he s a y s " t e s t i f i e s to the irreducibil ity of the o p p o s i t i o n b e t w e e n the p e r c e p t i o n of w h a t o n e m i g h t call ' l i v i n g r e a l i t y ' a n d the i n d i s p u t a b l y a b s t r a c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n t h a t the w r i t e r p u t s on it" ( Zv4 1 ) . J o y c e r e v e a l s the c o n c r e t e r e a l i t y of D u b l i n e r s o n l y in t e r m s of a s i n g l e c o n c e p t i o n of v a l u e : the i n n e r 1 i fe of c o n s c i o u s n e s s e m b o d i e d a n d a c t e d o u t by B l o o m a n d S t e p h e n D e d a l u s .
Z e r a f f a d i s c u s s e s L u k á c s ' s T h e o r y of the N o v e l , w h i c h e x p o s e s a t h e o r y of the novel b a s e d on the c o n c e p t of p r o d u c t i o n , a r g u i n g t h a t , t h o u g h L u k ã c s s h o w e d t h a t the n o v e l i s t t r i e s to s h o w a r e c o n c i l i a t i o n , s h o w n to be i m p o s s i bl e, between actual social r e l a t i o n s h i p s , w h i c h are d e t e r m i n e d by the i n f r a - s t r u c t u r e of p r o d u c t i o n , w i t h the v a l u e s , w h i c h the i n d i v i d u a l h o p e s to r e a l i z e in his l i f e , he is c o n c e r n e d w i th the p r o b l e m s of f o r m . "The n o v e l , " Z e r a f f a s a y s , "is n o t a
r e f l e c t i o n of the m y r i a d a s p e c t s of s o c i a l i n t e r c o u s e ; it is, on the c o n t r a r y , the m i r r o r i t s e l f . " ( Z ¿ 4 4 ) A t h e o r y of t h e n o v e l , a l t h o u g h b a s e d on the c o n c e p t of p r o d u c t i o n , m u s t , a c c o r d i n g to Z e r a f f a , t a k e a c c o u n t of the a r t i s t i c s t r u c t u r e of the novel — its f o r m , a n d the f o r m of the novel has to be u n d e r s t o o d , in his c o n c e p t i o n , as m e a n i n g n o t o n l y the s t y l e of the w r i t i n g b u t a l s o the m a n n e r in w h i c h it is c o n s t r u c t e d .
H e n r y J a m e s , w h o c o n t r i b u t e d to g i v e the novel a pri m a r y a e s t h e t i c s t a t u s , u p h e l d the s a m e k i n d of r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the novel a n d social r e a l i t y as Z e r a f f a , in a c k n o w l e d g i n g the w r i t e r ' s n e e d to f i n d m e a n i n g in c o m p l e x r e a l i t y a n d e x p r e s s s u c h m e a n i n g t h r o u g h a p a r t i c u l a r f o r m4.
F r o m w h a t we h a v e e x p o u n d e d a b o v e , w h i c h we c o n s i d e r to be s o m e e s s e n t i a l p o i n t s in Z e r a f f a ' s d i s c u s s i o n of the novel in r e l a t i o n to s o c i e t y in The N o v e l and S o c i a l R e a l i t y , we can c o n c l u d e t h a t his m a i n goal in t h i s w o r k , a s the t i t l e
s u g g e s t s , is to e x p o u n d his c o n c e p t s of the novel a s a literary f o r m , w h i c h is n e v e r t h e l e s s i n e v i t a b l y r e l a t e d to social r e a l i t y . The novel must be.understood as p o s s e s s i n g a m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e t h a t c e r t a i n l y has its o r i g i n in the social reality, b u t is u n r e d u c e a b l é to it. We h a v e a l s o i n s e r t e d in o u r e x p o s i t i o n s o m e v a l u a b l e a s s e r t i o n s f r o m H e n r y J a m e s ' s dis c u s s i o n on the n o v e l , w h i c h we c o n c l u d e d are in a g r e e m e n t w i t h Z é r a f f a ' s , i n a s s e r t i n g the c l o s e a n d u n e s c a p a b l e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the novel a n d s o c i a l r e a l i t y , . a n d s e e i n g the f o r m e r as a f o r m in i t s e l f . T h i s is w h a t we w i l l be
d e a l i n g w i t h in the s e c o n d p a r t of t h i s s t u d y , d i s c u s s i n g
21 the novel as a s p e c i f i c f o r m t h a t m u s t be c o m p r e h e n d e d a n d at the s a m e t i m e s e e i n g it as a m i r r o r of the s o c i a l r e a l i t y in w h i c h it is i n s e r t e d .
T h o u g h Z e r a f f a e v i d e n c e s in his w o r k — T h e Novel a n d Social R e a l i t y , w h e n d i s c u s s i n g L u k á c s , his u n q u a l i f i e d accept a n c e of the i d e a t h a t the i n f r a - s t r u c t u r e of p r o d u c t i o n does p r o v i d e a f i r m b a s i s for the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of the n o v e l , a n d t h a t the w r i t e r ' s w o r l d v i e w in r e a l i t y d e r i v e s f r o m the sub j e c t i v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s of one p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s , t h i s p o i n t cer t a i n l y d o e s n o t c.o.ns ti.tu.te the c o r e of his w o r k . T h u s , the spe c i f i c s t u d y of the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n — a u t h o r , social re a l i t y a n d n o v e l , w h i c h is the a i m of o u r p a p e r , has to be s u p p l i e d . We will try to s u p p l y t h i s s p e c i f i c a s p e c t as well às g i v e s u p p o r t to o u r s t u d y w i t h the e x p o s i t i o n of s o m e im p o r t a n t p o i n t s f r o m L u c i e n Gol dman.n1 s w o r k in t h i s f i e l d . As G o l d m a n n is b o t h a s o c i o l o g i s t a n d a t h e o r i s t of l i t e r a t u r e , his c o n t r i b u t i o n in t h i s fiel is m o s t v a l u a b l e .
N O T E S
*A11 c o m m e n t s b a s e d on Z e r a f f a in this c h a p t e r are f r o m Z Ë R A F F A , M i c h e l . T h e N o v e l and S o c i a l R e a l i t y . T r a n s . C a t h e r i n e B u r n s and T o m B u r n s . G r e a t B r i t a i n , H a z e l W a t s o n
& V i n e y L t d . , 1972. Q u o t a t i o n w i l l be i m m e d i a t l y f o l l o w e d by the r e f e r e n c e d p a g e s , as for i n s t a n c e (Z , 7).
2J A M E S , H e n r y . " T h e A r t of F i c t i o n . " In: E L L M A N N , R .
& F E I D E L S O N , J r . , C. T h e M o d e r n T r a d i t i o n : B a c k g r o u n d s of M o d e r n L i t e r a t u r e . N e w Y o r k , O x f o r d U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1965 , pp. 4 2 9 - 4 3 0 .
3 Ib i d , p. 436
"•Cf. F O R D , F . M . T h e Old M a n : T h e Q u e s t i o n of H e n r y James. L o n d o n , B o d l e y H e a d , 1 9 6 4 .
23
C H A P T E R T H R E E
M E T H O D O L O G I C A L A P P R O A C H
In his b o o k s , " T o w a r d s a S o c i o l o g y of the Novel a n d C u l t u r a l C r e a t i o n in M o d e r n S o c i e t y .1'1 G o l d m a n n d i s c u s s e s the e s s e n t i a l r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n s o c i a l l i f e a n d l i t e r a r y ere a t i o n , a n d s e t s o u t the o p e r a t i o n a l p r e m i s e s of his m e t h o d o l o g i c a l o r i e n t a t i o n f o r the a n a l y s i s of a l i t e r a r y w o r k . He c a l l e d t h i s o r i e n t a t i o n g e n e t i c s t r u c t u r a l i s m , a model in w h i c h d i a l e c t i c a l m a t e r i a l i s m in p r e s e n t e d in a f o r m of s t r u c t u r a l i s m , a n d the L u k a c s i a n c o n c e p t of "total i ty," which is the e s s e n c e of the m e t h o d M a r x t o o k o v e r f r o m H e g e l , a n d the f o u n d a t i o n of G o l d m a n n ' s s o c i o l o g i c a l m e t h o d i t s e l f , be c a m e " m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e s . "2
T h e f i r s t p r e m i s e of G o l d m a n n ' s m e t h o d of l i t e r a r y a n a l y s i s is t h a t the e s s e n t i a l r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n s o c i a l l i f e a n d l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n is n o t in the s p h e r e of c o n t e n t s , b u t i n s t e a d in w h a t he c a l l e d "the f o r m of the c o n t e n t , " " T h i s f o r m r e f e r s to the m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e s w h i c h o r g a n i z e the em p i r i c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s of a p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p as well as the i m a g i n a r y u n i v e r s e c r e a t e d by the w r i t e r . "3 A s e c o n d p r e m i s e , c l o s e l y c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h i s f i r s t o n e , is t h a t t h e r e
is a s t r u c t u r a l h o m o l o g y b e t w e e n the s t r u c t u r e of the imaginary u n i v e r s e of a l i t e r a r y w o r k , a n d the m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e of a c e r t a i n s o c i a l g r o u p , a h o m o l o g y t h a t d o e s n o t r e f e r to the s p h e r e of c o n t e n t s , a n d thus s h o w s t h e opposition of Goldmann's m e t h o d to a s o c i o l o g y of c o n t e n t s , w h i c h s e e s t h e l i t e r a r y w o r k as a r e f l e x of the c o l l e c t i v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s . G o l d m a n n a s s e r t s t h a t by f o c u s i n g on the c o n t e n t of c o l l e c t i v e c o n s c i o u n e s s , t r a d i t i o n a l s o c i o l o g y f a i l s to g r a s p ' the e s s e n c e of arti sti c w o r k .
A t h i r d p r e m i s e of g e n e t i c s t r u c t u r a l i s m r e f e r s to the c o l l e c t i v e , c h a r a c t e r of l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n , ;that the i n d i v i d u a l w r i t e r d o e s not c r e a t e a w o r l d v i e w . His w o r l d v i e w is the e x p r e s s i o n of the col 1 ective. m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e of a g r o u p . T h e i n d i v i d u a l s u b j e c t ' s r o l e — in the c a s e of l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n , the w r i t e r ' s r o l e — i s to g i v e t h e s e cat e g o r i e s a h i g h level of c o n s i s t e n c y a n d c o h e r e n c e .
W h e n a n a l y s i n g his c o n c e p t of w o r l d view,Michel Zeraffa c o m p a r e s it w i t h G o l d m a n n ' s a n d d o e s n o t r e c o g n i z e any sub s t a n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e t w o . Z e r a f f a identifies. world v i e w , w h i c h be c o n s i d e r s the f i r s t real s t a g e of the w o r k y e t to be w r i t t e n , w i t h an o r d e r e d p a t t e r n the w r i t e r r e a c h e s in s y n t h e s i z i n g the c o n f l i c t i n g f o r c e s of r e a l i t y by m e a n s of s o m e b a s i c i d e o l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e . .He d e s c r i b e s G o l d m a n n ' s d e f i n i t i o n of w o r l d v i e w as a . p r o c e s s in w h i c h " t h e r e is f i r s t the c o n c e p t u a l e x t r a p o l a t i o n of the a c t u a l , e f f e c t i v e a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l t e n d e n c i e s of the g r o u p to. its ultimate coherent f o r m , a n d , s e c o n d l y , a c o h e r e n t s e t of p r o b l e m s a n d responses w h i c h e x p r e s s e s , in c r e a t i v e l i t e r a t u r e , a c o n c r e t e w o r l d of
2 5 p e o p l e a n d t h i n g s t h r o u g h the m e d i u m of w o r d s . "4
C o m p a r i n g the t w o c o n c e p t s w e can i d e n t i f y e s s e n t i a l poi nts in commom..—sy n t h e s i s a n d u l t i m a t e c o h e r e n c e , b u t w h a t f i t s i n t o o u r p u r p u s e is the a s s e r t i o n , c o m m o n to b o t h con c e p t s , t h a t a w o r l d v i e w is a p r o c e s s r e a c h e d by s i n t h e s i z i n g the c o n f l i c t i n g f o r c e s of r e a l i t y , o r r a t h e r s i n t h e s i z i n g the
" a c t u a l , e f f e c t i v e a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l t e n d e n c i e s of the group,"
f o r w h a t we will be s h o w i n g in our s t u d y i s t h a t t h e s y n t h e s i s H e r z o g s t r u g g l e s to r e a c h is B e l l o w ' s o w n w o r l d v i e w .
T h i s t h i r d p r e m i s e , r e f e r r i n g to the c o l l e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r of l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n , is c o n n e c t e d to the p r e v i o u s one in the s e n s e t h a t the c o l l e c t i v e c h a r a c t e r of the l i t e r a r y c r e a t i o n , a c c o r d i n g to G o l d m a n n ,5 c o m e s f r o m the f a c t t h a t the s t r u c t u r e s of the i m a g i n a r y u n i v e r s e are h o m o l o g o u s to the m e n t a l s t r u c t u r e s of c e r t a i n s o c i a l g r o u p s or are in in t e l l i g i b l e r e l a t i o n w i t h t h e m .
In his e s s a y " D i a l e c t i c a l T h o u g h t a n d T r a n s i n d i vidual S u b j e c t , "5 G o l d m a n n d i s c u s s e s the f u n c t i o n a l i t y of the sub j e c t in the a r t i s t i c c r e a t i o n a n d g i v e s r e a s o n s for his c h o i c e in a n a l y s i n g the s t r u c t u r e a n d f u n c t i o n of a l i t e r a r y w o r k in r e l a t i o n to a c o l l e c t i v e s u b j e c t . H i s a r g u m e n t s are re l a t e d to a f o u r t h p r e m i s e of his g e n e t i c structuralist m e t h o d : the r e j e c t i o n of l i t e r a r y a n a l y s i s in t e r m s of the p s y c h o b i o g r a p h y of the a u t h o r . Goldmann a d m i t s that the meaning of. a..work'of art_ is s i t u a t e d at two l e v e l s , in r e l a t i o n to an i n d i v i d u a l a n d to a t r a n s i n d i v i dual s u b j e c t , "in r e l a t i o n to the indi vidual s u b j e c t t h e r e is a l i b i d i n a l m e a n i n g b u t it is n e i t h e r a e s t h e t i c n o r h i s t o r i c a l . "7 T h e " t r u t h c o n t e n t " o f a w o r k of
a r t can o n l y . b e g r a s p e d , a c c o r d i n g to h i m , i n the p e r s p e c t i v e of a c o l l e c t i v e s u b j e c t .
In a d i s c u s s i o n w i t h T h e o d o r A d o r n o , G o l d m a n n -expounds his p o s i t i o n c o n c e r n i n g his a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t of the col 1 e c t i v e s u b j e c t r a t h e r t h a n the i n d i v i d u a l s u b j e c t as the t r u e a u t h o r of the l i t e r a r y w o r k , a n d a s s e r t s t h a t "thework of art permits the c r e a t i o n of an i m a g i n a r y w o r l d . w i t h a r i g o r o u s f o r m a n d s t r u c t u r e in r e l a t i o n to the g r o u p " , n o t to an i n d i v i d u a l . H e a d d s t h a t " t h i s i m a g i n a r y c o m p r e h e n s i o n hel.ps r e i n f o r c e the g r o u p ' s c o n s c i o u s n e s s b e c a u s e it is s i t u a t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y in r e l a t i o n to t h o s e g r o u p a s p i r a t i o n s . "8
G o l d m a n n ' s c o n c e p t of c o l l e c t i v e c o n s c i o u s n e s s is based on his c o n c e p t of p o t e n t i a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s , in o p p o s i t i o n to
" r e a l " c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h i c h , he s a y s , o r i e n t s . c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i o l o g y . For h i m , "the p r o b l e m is to k n o w n o t w h a t a g r o u p t h i n k s , " w h i c h w o u l d be the real c o n s c i o u s n e s s , " b u t w h a t c h a n g e s are l i k e l y to o c c u r in its c o n s c i o u s n e s s in the absence of m o d i f i c a t i o n in the g r o u p ' s e s s e n t i a l n a t u r e . "9 T h u s , on the level of the c o l l e c t i v e s u b j e c t t h e r e is a dynamic : process, t h i n g s are in t r a n s f o r m a t i o n : " s o c i a l g r o u p s are t r a n s f o r m e d w i t h i n g i v e n s t r u c t u r e s a n d at c e r t a i n m o m e n t the t r a n s i t i o n
is m a d e f r o m o n e s t r u c t u r e to the o t h e r . "1 0 T h u s , the rel ati on . between, the w r i t e r a n d s o c i e t y w o u l d i n v o l v e the f a c t t h a t t h i s p r o c e s s of s t r u c t u r a t i o n in the
social g r o u p , t h i s s t r i v i n g of s u b j e c t s to a c h i e v e d y n a m i c e q u i l i b r i u m w i t h t h e i r e n v i r o n m e n t d o e s n o t r e a c h an e f f e c t i v e c o h e r e n c e , w h i c h is r e a c h e d o n l y in the imaginary universe c r e a t e d by the w r i t e r . In t h i s s e n s e , the l i t e r a r y w o r k is
2?, n o t o n l y a m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e , b u t a f u n c t i o n a l o n e : it h e l p s to c l a r i f y a n d m a k e c o h e r e n t the tendencies of t h e s o c i a l g r o u p the a u t h o r is p a r t of.
T h e p u r p o s e of t h i s s t u d y , s t a t e d in our i n t r o d u c t i o n , is m a i n l y b a s e d on the p r e m i s e s e x p o u n d e d a b o v e , a n d in the m e t h o d o l o g i c a l p r o c e s s of G o l d e m a n n ' s g e n e t i c s t r u c t u r a l i s m , w h i c h i n v o l v e s the i n t e r r e l a t e d p r o c e s s e s of c o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d e x p l a n a t i o n . E x p l a n a t i o n puts the w o r k in re 1 a t i o n to the social s t r u c t u r e w h i c h s h o u l d be comprehended in its s y s t e m a t i c s t r u c t u r a t i o n . T h i s p r o c e s s c o n s t i t u t e s w h a t G o l d m a n n c a l l s
" g e n e t i c expl anati on " : to u n d e r s t a n d a w o r k " t h r o u g h inserting it in a m o r e global s y s t e m a t i z a t i o n , a v a s t e r s i g n i f i c a t i v e s t r u c t u r e . " O u r a i m , t h e n , b a s e d on G o l d m a n n ' s s t u d y , is to e x p l a i n H e r z o g , by p l a c i n g it in f u n c t i o n a l r e l a t i o n w i t h a global s t r u c t u r a t i o n — A m e r i c a n u r b a n s o c i e t y , w h i c h is i n s e r t e d in an e v e n v a s t e r s t r u c t u r e : t e c h n o c r a t i c society — w h i c h explains how the novel was born. T h u s , embr'aci ng G o l d m a n n ' s
t h e o r y , w e i n t e n d to s h o w t h a t H e r z o g i s an imaginary u n i v e r s e w i t h a s p e c i f i c f o r m , w h o s e m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e m i r r o r the s t r u c t u r e of c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y . T h i s s p e c i f i c f o r m will be a n a l y s e d so t h a t we can u n d e r s t a n d it a n d d e c o d i f y its m e a n i n g f u l s t r u c t u r e s , a n d thus p l a c e t h e m in f u n c t i o n a l
r e l a t i o n w i t h the s o c i a l s t r u c t u r e . We will be then d o i n g w h a t G o l d m a n n c a l l s the p r o c e s s e s of c o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d e x p l a n a t i o n : we c o m p r e h e n d the i m a g i n a r y u n i v e r s e and explain
it by i n s e r t i n g it in a v a s t e r s t r u c t u r e . We a l s o h a v e to c o m p r e h e n d , as s t a t e d a b o v e , the s y s t e m a t i c s t r u c t u r a t i o n of s o c i e t y , a n d t h i s we will see in the n e x t c h a p t e r .1 1
G o l d m a n n ' s t h e o r i e s , as we h a v e s e e n , are dialectically o r i e n t e d , t h u s , e m b r a c i n g his i d e a t h a t e v e r y t h i n g is f u n c t i o n a l , a n d c e n t e r e d on the p o s s i b i l i t i e s of v a r i a t i o n a n d t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d s o c i a l r e a l i t y , we will be a l s o t r y i n g to s h o w t h a t H e r z o g n o t o n l y shows Bellow's view, of s o c i e t y , b u t a l s o t r i e s to c o m m u n i c a t e an a t t i t u d e t h a t b r i n g s a n e w o r i e n t a t i o n to c o n t e m p o r a r y m a n .
In his b o o k , T h e H u m a n S c i e n c e s a n d P h i l o s o p h y ,1 2 G o l d m a n n d e f i n e d f u l l y w h a t he c o n s i d e r s to be the f u n d a m e n t a l c a t e g o r y f o r c o m p r e h e n d i n g h u m a n h i s t o r y — t h e c a t e g o r y of the p o s s i b 1 e , w h i c h c h a r a c t e r i z e s d i a l e c t i c a l s o c i o l o g y in the s e n s e t h a t it t r i e s to i s o l a t e , in the s o c i e t y it studies, the p o t e n t i a l , d e v e l o p i n g t e n d e n c i e s o r i e n t e d t o w a r d s o v e r c o m i n g t h a t s o c i e t y . G o l d m a n n c o n s i d e r s t h a t t h r o u g h o u t h i s t o r y m a n ' s p s y c h i c . l i f e has b e e n d e v e l o p e d in t e r m s of two f u n d a m e n t a l d i m e n s i o n s : " t h e t e n d e n c y to a d a p t to the r e a l , a n d the t e n d e n c y to o v e r c o m e the real t o w a r d the p o s s i b l e — t o w a r d a b e y o n d w h i c h m e n m u s t c r e a t e by t h e i r b e h a v i o u r . "1 3 T h i s a d a p t a t i o n to the r e a l , as we h a v e s e e n , is e s s e n t i a l to a d y n a m i c s t r u c t u r a t i o n , b u t it m a y t h r e a t e n the s e c o n d d i m e n s i o n , if it t e n d s to b e c o m e s t a t i c .
T h e s e p o t e n t i a l t e n d e n c i e s t h a t d e v e l o p in a social g r o u p a n d are o r i e n t e d t o w a r d s a t r a n s f o r m a t i o n are g r a s p e d by B e l l o w a n d c o n s t i t u t e the c o h e r e n t u n i v e r s e of his novels.
T h i s is the f a c t t h a t l e d us to s t u d y o n e of his novels based on the t h e o r y we h a v e b e e n d i s c u s s i n g , w h i c h s a y s the w r i t e r can o n l y w r i t e in a p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t m u s t e x i s t in s o c i e t y , so t h a t he can s u b s e q u e n t l y t r a n s p o s e it in a coherent imaginary
29 u n i v e r s e . B e l l o w s h o w s , in his w o r k , an a w a r e n e s s of the f u n d a m e n t a l p r o b l e m s of o u r t e c h n o c r a t i c s o c i e t y , b u t , a s we will s e e , H e r z o g s h o w s t h a t B e l l o w s h a r e s G o l d m a n n ' s b e l i e f in the s e c o n d d i m e n s i o n of m e n1 4. He is a w a r e of the posi t i o n of m a n in c o n t e m p o r a r y s o c i e t y , w h i c h is m i r r o r e d in the s t r u c t u r e of the n o v e l , b u t he is a l s o s e n s i t i v e to the new t e n d e n c i e s t h a t are e m e r g i n g in o u r s o c i e t y to o v e r c o m e real i ty.
We are t r y i n g to p o i n t o u t at t h i s p o i n t o f o u r a r g u m e n t t h a t B e l l o w ' s w o r k , e s p e c i a l l y H e r z o g , is c l o s e l y re l a t e d to o u r social r e a l i t y , a f a c t t h a t a r o u s e d in us the i n t e r e s t to a n a l y s e it t h r o u g h a s o c i o l o g i c a l m o d e l . M a l col m B r a d b u r y , c o m p a r i n g H e r z o g w i t h B e l l o w ' s e a r l i e r n o v e l s , d i s c u s s e d its c l o s e r r e l a t i o n to s o c i e t y a n d s t a t e d :
..., it is m o r e d e e p l y l o c a t e d in its s o c i e t y , t h e s o c i e t y of u r b a n A m e r i c a , and this s o c i e t y in t u r n is m u c h m o r e d e e p l y l o c a t e d in its f o u n d i n g h i s tory and i d e o l o g y t h a n a r e m o s t of the e a r l i e r
n o v e l s . H e r z o g , s p e a k i n g out of the J e w i s h and the i n t e l l e c t u a l s e c t o r of d e m o c r a t i c m o d e r n A m e r i c a , k n o w s e x p e r i e n t i a l l y and i n t e l l e c t u a l l y j u s t w h a t c h a r a c t e r this w o r l d h a s o u t of w h i c h he is s p e a k i n g . T h e i n t e l l e c t u a l and s o c i o 1 og ical • aware n e s s of the n o v e l , its s e n s e of h i s t o r y and so c i e t y , p r o m o t e s its s i z e and its c e n t r a l i t y ; and it is f r o m this a w a r e n e s s that the e s s e n t i a l s e a r c h , and the g u i d i n g s t a n d a r d s of the b o o k d e r i v e .1 5
T h u s , e m b r a n c i n g Gol d m a n n ' s 1 6 theory that, the great writer is the e x c e p t i o n a l i n d i v i d u a l w h o m a n a g e s to c r e a t e a f i n e t i o n a l , c o h e r e n t u n i v e r s e w h o s e s t r u c t u r e c o r r e s p o n d s to t h a t to w h i c h the m e m b e r s of the s o c i a l g r o u p t e n d , we will be a c c e p t i n g t h a t the novel we are e x a m i n i n g r e p r e s e n t s B e l l o w ' s v i e w of the s o c i a l g r o u p he b e l o n g s i n , a n d w h i c h is r e s p o n s i b l e f o r the e l a b o r a t i o n of the e l e m e n t s t h a t
m a k e up his w o r l d v i e w . C o n s i d e r i n g t h a t B e l l o w b e l o n g s in an u r b a n c o m m u n i t y , t h a t he is p a r t of the c i t y , his v i e w is t h a t of the u r b a n g r o u p , so t h a t we t h i n k it r e l e v a n t to d e f i n e the u r b a n g r o u p a n d d i s c u s s B e l l o w ' s r e l a t i o n w i t h it.
A c c o r d i n g to L o u i s W i r t h ,1 7 the c o n t e m p o r a r y w o r l d m a y be c a l l e d " u r b a n " , due to the i n f l u e n c e s t h a t t h e cities e x e r t on the s o c i a l l i f e of m e n . F o r B e l l o w , f r o m w h a t we i n f e r f r o m his n o v e l s , the city is the l i v i n g . m o m u e n t of m a n ' s c o l l e c t i v e a c t i o n s . T h e c i t y s e e m s to f a s c i n a t e him due to its c o m p l e x i t y . "It is the pi ace of c o m p r e s s e d h u m a n m i s e r y , b u t it is a l s o the p l a c e f o r h u m a n i n v o l v e m e n t . " 1 8 It is the p l a c e in w h i c h B e l l o w b e l o n g s a n d f r o m w h i c h the raw m a t e r i a l f o r his w o r k e m e r g e s , if we c o n s i d e r , literature as "a social p r o d u c t , a r i s i n g o u t of the d i a l e c t i c a l i n t e r a c t i o n b e t w e e n a p a r t i c u l a r h i s t o r i c a l c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d a p a r t i c u l a r s o c i a l r e a l i t y . "1 9 T h i s c h a o t i c raw. m a t e r i a l is t r a n s f o r m e d by t h e w r i t e r , in o u r c a s e B e l l o w , i n t o a c o h e r e n t u n i v e r s e , in the l i g h t of G o l d m a n n ' s c o n c e p t already d i s c u s s e d , t h a t the social g r o u p d o e s n o t r e a l l y c r e a t e a w o r l d v i e w — w h i c h is the r o l e of the w r i t e r , it o n l y p r o v i d e s its c o m p o s i n g e l e m e n t s t h a t a r e e l a b o r a t e d by the w r i t e r i n t o a c o h e r e n t u n i v e r s e . A . L . S t r a u s s , in his article
" U r b a n Perspectives'. N e w Y o r k C i t y " a s s e r t s t h a t " t h e n o v e l i s t s h a v e p o r t r a y e d life in the c i t y n o t o n l y m o r e d r a m a t i c a l l y — m o r e h u m a n l y if y o u w i s h — t h a n t h e i r s c h o l a r l y c o n t e m p o r a r i e s , the s o c i o l o g i s t s , the g e o g r a p h e r s , t h e p l a n n e r s " . S t r a u s s e v e n c o m m e n t s on L o u i s W i r t h ' s a r t i c l e ,
