1. 研究目的与意义（文献综述）

Saul Bellow, the American Jewish writer, he is considered to be one of the most famous writers in contemporary America. And his works contain abundant social contents and profound philosophies. With the unique narrative style and the vivid description of characters’ psychology, he has received many literature awards and honors. Saul bellow has become the focus of overseas studies since 1976 when he won the Nobel Prize. Moreover, a specialized research institute and the Journal of Saul bellow were established to comment on bellow’s new works. On the contrary, domestic scholars attach little attention to Saul bellow at that time. And no research monograph about Saul bellow is published at home. Part of his novel even has no translation. Dangling man, Herzog and Humboldt's gift are the three most studied masterpieces by domestic and foreign scholars. Compared with those three novels, Looking for Mr. Green is the less popular one in domestic, to some extent, because of the limited Chinese version and the inadequate research. The theme of bellow’s works are diversely and complicated, resulting in various reviews on Looking for Mr. Green. For instance, being a prestigious American Jewish writes, Saul bellow’s work has a strong implication of Jewishness. So some scholars tend to analyze the Jewishness which is embodied in the protagonist Grebe. There are also many critics discuss about the theological and religious themes in Looking for Mr. Green. Wu Yunnan and Li Mingling describe the protagonist Grebe as the image of Christ, revealing the theme that people anticipate the revisit of Messiah during the chaotic times. At present, some scholars begin to realize the existentialism in bellow’s work, and study how Saul bellow’s hero looks for self-existence in the extremely marginalized situation. However, they don’t analyze Looking for Mr. Green systematically by utilizing existential theories.

Existential thoughts mainly originate from the Soren Kierkegaard’s mysticism, Nietzsche's voluntarism and Husserl's phenomenology, etc. Existentialists hold the view that loneliness, pain and despair are three fundamental feelings of humans to live in an absurd world. But Sartre's existentialism has some differences between the traditional existentialism. There are three basic concepts of Sartre's existentialism. First, “existence precedes essence”. Sartre considers that human beings should exist at first, then suffer from misery, eventually gain their own essence. Second, “the individual and others, others are the hell.” Although Man is free, he is not absolutely free to choice. When a person makes his choice, he cannot escape from others’ perspective. There are only two ways to follow: obedience or making free choice. Third, Sartre's humanism emphasizes “individual freedom”. Even the thought of people is restricted to others; to be what kind of person is completely depending on his choice and action.

Thought-provoking existential philosophy could be found in every works of Saul bellow, which has not been fully excavated. And the absurdity and misery experienced by the protagonist accurately reflect the reality of human society. The author will systematically explain the existential values with many examples from the perspective of Sartre's existentialism, including the discussion about modern people how to insist on their own values and pursue the significance of existence in the fantastic environment. Meanwhile, the author also illustrates the profound influence of the bellow’s existential writing, and then provides a new direction for the study of Saul bellow’s works.

2. 研究的基本内容与方案

this paper intends to apply sartre's existentialist ideas into the analysis of the protagonist grebe in looking for mr. green, including his interior world as well as interpersonal relationship among the characters. moreover, the leading figure grebe finally discovers the paradoxical values as well as self-realization of his own existence.

firstly, the author uses the concept of "existence precedes essence" to analyze the living condition of the united states during the great depression. despair and absurdity diffuse in the rubble as well as the closed factories, saturating the whole black ghetto. people live in there show indifference and alienation to others, so that no one knows the existence of mr. green. secondly, the view of “the individual and others, others are the hell” is used for illustrating the different pursuits of grebe, raynor and staika, showing the various ways which people apply to establish their own existence in this awkward circumstance. at the same time, the author intends to explain that others’ existential values also have influence on the existence choose by the hero. however, sartre stresses on "individual freedom". grebe wants to be what kind of person, is eventually determined by his self-choice and action. looking for mr. green is merely a way for him to vent the energetic power in his body. therefore, he can face the disintegrating reality and found the significance of his existence. finally, the author may summarize the existential view of saul bellow, and conclude the influence of his existential writing on later generations.

in order to achieve the target of research, the author will conduct a series of readings, and then continue to search and summarize the literature review. what’s more, the author will apply the method of theoretical discussion to fully grasp the concepts of sartre's existentialism used in this paper.

3. 研究计划与安排

before 26th, december settlement of the title

before 25th, february submission of the outline

before 25th, april submission of the first draft

4. 参考文献（12篇以上）

[1] bach, gerhard. introduction, the critical responses to saul bellow [m]. westport,

connecticut london greenwood press, 1995.

[2] churchill, steven, and reynolds, j. jean-paul sartre: key concepts [m].