Identity crisis in Saul Bellow’s dangling man (1944)‎ and the victim (1947)‎

Abstract EN

This paper analyzes Saul Bellow’s Dangling Man (1944) and The Victim (1947).

It specifically focuses on identity crisis, which is one of the recurrent themes in these two novels, with Bellow’s characters constituting a new hybrid identity ; both Jewish and Christian.

It also investigates the factors which lead to Saul’s protagonists identity crisis, and shows how they are strongly influenced by going through different cultures and religions.

Bellow’s protagonists try to get knowledge both about themselves and about others throughout their lives, in the shade of various places and cultures.

It also illustrates how Bellow’s characters ti-y to make balance between their fear of being trapped in the new Christian-based culture which they have been involved in and their mother Jewish-based culture, with its maxims and traditions.

Finally, the paper proves that Bellow manages to mould his characters in a way which draws the readers attention to their ability to combine and incorporate contradictory culmres and qualities.