Humboldt's Gift

HUMBOLDT'S GIFT
by Saul Bellow

 Award: Nobel Prize Winner, Pulitzer Winner 1976

 Nomination: National Book Finalist 1976, NY Times Finalist 1975

 Dates Read: September 14, 2008 & July 20, 2019

 Humboldt was a cantankerous, jealous and mentally ill man, but idealized nonetheless for his art by Charlie Citrine, who at a young age, traveled to New York to pursue Humboldt and learn from him. And learn he did. Humboldt acted as a maniacal mentor, and what initially began as blind admiration, grew into love and all that comes with love - jealousy, competitiveness, intimacy.

 Humboldt was well-read and even better opinionated and helped to complete Charlie's education. Whether Charlie ever credited Humboldt with his success was never stated, but I believe he understood the influence Humboldt had on his own art. Yet for all the wrongs that Humboldt commits, Charlie ceaselessly extends forgiveness, understanding, and often, amusement.

 Charlie himself is a questionable character, indiscriminately following those who pop into his life and getting mixed up with ne'er-do-wells and impossible situations. He stumbles into all manner of difficult and awkward situations, lending this novel a flair of comedy and absurdity. These situations have an awakening influence, for Charlie was nearly asleep at the wheel of his life before the letter from Humboldt's attorney materializes.

 Bellow clearly has fun here conveying his own philosophy through the characters of Humboldt and Citrine (Anthroposophy anyone? I readily admit having to look this one up). Arguably, Citrine finally realizes that others hold such power over him because they clearly know their own desires and Citrine, wandering aimlessly, does not. Through his relationship with Humboldt, Citrine is saved from his final act of kindness, which finds its way into his life at the exact moment it is needed, reminiscent of a parent/child relationship.

 In the immortal words of Humboldt, "Remember: we are not natural beings but supernatural beings." Through these final words imparted to Charlie, Humboldt helps him to finally take the reins of his life and exert his own will upon his future.

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