HENDERSON THE RAIN KING

By Saul Bellow

Sami Carley and Josh Schurr

Summary

What is a “hero’s journey” and how does it pertain to the main character?

Henderson’s evolution of his character throughout the book using the “Hero’s Journey Template” designed by Joseph Campbell.

“The Matrix” example.

The Hero’s Journey Chart

The Hero’s Journey

A Hero’s Journey (or monomyth) is a basic pattern found in many narratives from around the world.

The series of patterns are Departure, Initiation, and Return.

Each pattern contains steps that evolve the character throughout the story.

Not every story follows all or the same steps but the series of events are always the same.

Departure The call to adventure is the point in a hero’s life when they are first given

notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not. In “Henderson the Rain King”, Henderson’s call was when his

housekeeper died, and he realizes that if he dies “there will be nothing left but junk, because nothing will have been and so nothing will be left. While something still is- now! For the sake of all, get out”.

Following this, he makes the decision to go to Africa. This is when he decides to “answer the call”.

Another important step is finding a supernatural aid/ mentor. This is often someone older, and more experienced than the hero. Who guides the hero through their quest.

They often train and prepare the hero before sending them out to finish what they set out to do.

Henderson’s mentors were Willatale and Mtalba. Crossing the Threshold: This is when the hero commits to leaving the

normal world and entering a new region or condition with unfamiliar rules and virtues. When Henderson makes the decision to separate from his friend Charlie and his wife and hire a new guide named Romilayu to take him as deep into “unfamiliar territory”, this is crossing the threshold.

Initiation Tests, Allies, and Enemies: This is when the hero is tested and sorts out

allegiances in the Special World. Henderson was tested by the Prince in a wrestling match which at first, he refused to participate in but later ended up winning. Often the hero fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes. Henderson fails to kill off the frogs with his homemade explosive, which ends up breaking the retaining wall that holds the tribe’s water supply. His allies are Romilayu, Mtalba, Willatale, and Dahfu.

The Ordeal: Near the middle of a story, the hero enters a central space in the Special World and confronts death or faces his or her greatest fear. Out of the moment of death comes a new life. When Henderson becomes the Rain King.

Return

The Resurrection: At the climax, the hero is severely tested once more on the threshold of home. He or she is purified by a last sacrifice, another moment of death and rebirth, but on a higher and more complete level. By the hero’s action, the polarities that were in conflict at the beginning are finally resolved. After King Dahfu dies, Henderson is named his successor.

Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home or continues the journey, bearing some element of the treasure that has the power to transform the world as the hero has been transformed. Henderson brings back home a lion cub named Dahfu, named after his friend King Dahfu.

The Matrix Example

The Ordinary World

The Call to Adventure

Meeting with the Mentor

Crossing the Threshold

Tests, Allies, and Enemies

Approach

The Reward

The Resurrection

Return With the Elixir