Volume 4,Issue 2
Black Humor in Saul Bellow’s Herzog
Against the backdrop of social upheaval and spiritual crisis in the United States during the 1960s, Saul Bellow’s Herzog profoundly reveals the absurd nature of modern society through the spiritual crisis of the intellectual protagonist, Herzog. Employing the theory of black humor, the study explores how the novel uses paradox, irony, and other techniques to present the relationship between rationality and absurdity, the spiritual alienation of intellectuals, and the nihilistic predicament of modern civilization. It finds that Bellow’s black humor is mainly manifested in the following three aspects: first, the contrast between Herzog’s erudition as a professor and his incompetence in practical life exposes the illusory nature of his rationalism. Besides, his ambivalent attitudes toward marriage, academia, and Jewish identity reveal the identity crisis and spiritual dilemma of modern individuals. Lastly, through exaggerated social satire, the novel allows serious existential anxiety to be dissolved and reconstructed within the absurd. Herzog’s unsent letters, chaotic inner monologues, and absurd behavioral logic constitute a unique expression of black humor, which uses laughter to confront alienation, seeking redemption amidst despair. These analysis not only deepen the understanding of Bellow’s artistic style but also provide a new interpretive perspective for comprehending the spiritual plight of individuals in postmodern society.
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