A Psychological Analysis of Moses Herzog in Relation to Letters He Writes
In the book Herzog by Saul Bellow, Moses Herzogs psychological state starts at a point from the beginning that is more absentminded and quickly progresses to a dangerously low point in his life, until finally he has an epiphany of sorts and reaches an inner peace. The inner workings of Herzogs mind are hidden within the letters he compulsively writes throughout the novel. When analyzed, the letters truly reveal the psychological state that Herzog is in. Herzog takes a revolutionary path to reach the ultimate pinnacle in human cognitive ability: self-actualization.
When the novel Herzog starts out, Moses Herzog was a once very wealthy man. Now, Herzog is in shambles to the outside world. He absent-mindedly goes through the day. He eats, he sleeps, and all the while his house slowly turns into a state of great untidiness. His sanity was rumored to have completely left him, he didnt believe that. The letters he began to write started out as little scribbles, some words, and incoherent strings of words. Then, they became more. They slowly transformed into small thoughts and complete sentences, up to the point where he now writes letters that will never be sent. These letters are why Herzog never fully loses his grip on reality, sanity. The letters were a link to what he once knew the world as. His first letter, as observed by the reader, was more of a compilation of letters:
Dear Mama, As to why I havent visited your grave in so long Dear Wanda, Dear Zinka, Dear Libbie, Dear Ramona, Dear Sono, I need help in the worst way. I am afraid of falling apart. Dear Edvig, the fact is that madness also has denied me. I dont know why I should write to you at all. Dear Mr. President, Internal revenue regulations will turn us into a nation of bookkeepers. The life of every citizen is becoming a business. This, it seems to me, is one of the worst interpretations of the meaning of human life history has ever seen. Mans life is not a business. (Bellow 427)
His first letter explains how he really does not believe he has lost sanity. He believes that insanity itself has been deprived of him. At this point his sanity is at a low level but it still exists. Herzogs next big letter is to his mistress, Ramona, explaining his situation and how You [Ramona] are a great comfort to me (433). Ramona seems to be what Herzog believes as his last hold on sanity. Ramona is real, tangible, and lets him feel love and affection when all is bleak. Next introduced is Herzogs love affair from France: Wanda. Wanda is French woman and only speaks the French language. At the time she was an innocent women and he relished every moment. It was like a game to him. Now, it is only a fond memory for Herzog. He continues to write letters, in a taxi cab, and the most notable is his letter to Madeleines Aunt Zelda. He tells Zelda how he thinks of the accusations that he is crazy. Suddenly, because Madeleine decided that she wanted out- suddenly, I was a mad dog (451). Herzog thinks that the reason he has been dubbed as crazy is because Madeleine needed a scapegoat, she needed a reason to justify her divorcing him, and it worked. The next letter is quite long and is addressed to Dr. Edvig, his psychiatrist from Chicago. The letter sheds some light on how Madeleine was slowly losing it to paranoia as Herzog realizes she was already having an affair with Valentine Gersbach and was only using Dr. Edvig as a tool to help her divorce Herzog.
In the next section, Herzog begins writing a multitude of letters to various people in positions of power when he begins to write to himself. Herzog begins to reflect: Dear Moses E. Herzog, Since when have you taken such an interest in social questions, In the external world? (484). Herzog now evaluates his own mental state and realizes, since he has lost interest in the shallow events of life, he can now focus on large important issues and voice his own opinion, no matter how private. Herzog then writes a long letter to no one, just to collect his thoughts but soon he is writing letters again. More letters to those from the past are written where Herzog self-evaluates himself through writing. Again, in the next section, Herzog writes to those in positions in power of his thoughts and opinions. He pursues a relationship with Ramona and dwells on her ex-boyfriend, George Hoberly, and how he attempted suicide twice. Herzog then arrives at a courthouse to meet with Simkin. He decides to sit in on some cases until he cannot stand the evil and leaves the courthouse, about to vomit. He holds it back but does not understand the cruelty and atrocities people commit. Herzog is losing his faith in humanity. Herzog, afterwards, has an impulse to confront Madeleine and Gersbach and see his daughter June. Firstly, he stopped at his old home and meets with his stepmother Taunte Taube. Herzog grabs his fathers old gun and leaves for Madeleines place. He hits his low point when thoughts of killing Gersbach and Madeleine cross his mind. He realizes that he could not do it, Firing this pistol was nothing but a thought (677).
Herzog then begins to reevaluate his life and start taking action to see his daughter again. When he does meet with his daughter, His happiness was painful (694), telling of his immense love for his daughter and his path to self-actualization began. His writings become less frequent until he is incarcerated for carrying an unlicensed gun. Then he begins to write random thoughts to himself and a short letter to Dr. Edvig and Ramona, again telling Ramona I owe you a lot. I am fully aware of it (725). He then talks to his brother, Will, when he is bailed out. They catch up and Will seems to take pity on Herzog, at least in Herzogs mind he does. Herzog returns to his home and begins to write letters he plans to send. He writes to everyone: Ramona, Madeleine, Gersbach, Marco, Professor Mermelstein, and many others. This is Herzogs moment of self-actualization, the point where he is content with everything and knows his place. Most importantly, he wrote to God: How my mind has struggled to make coherent sense. I have not been too good at it. But have desired to do your unknowable will. Taking it, and you, without symbols. Everything of intensest significance. Especially if divested of me. (747) His moment of peace is when he asks himself what he wants and replies, But thats just it-not a solitary thing. (762) Herzog has attained self-actualization and At this time he had no messages for anyone. Nothing. Not a single word. (763)
Herzog lives in a world where those around him question his sanity. He finds solace in the letters he writes, but never sends. Until he could send them, which is what he planned to do with the last bunch he writes, he questions his own sanity yet also believes insanity is not even able to take over his mind. Herzog runs through his world facing his enemies in his friends, family, and even himself. During the novel Herzogs mind travels down a path in which he slowly begins to lose his sanity from a point where he had only some until he turns his life around and reaches the point of self-content, self-peace, self-actualization.
Work Cited
Bellow, Saul. Novels 1956-1964: Seize the Day, Henderson the Rain King, Herzog. New York:
Literary Classics of the United States, Inc, 2007. Print.
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