Augie’s Quest for a Stable Life in Saul Bellow’s Novel ‘The Adventures of Augie March’

With appearance of his novel The Adventures of Augie March in 1953, Saul Bellow revived the old native picaresque technique. The hero of the novel is uprooted, homeless and is out in search of reality of life and personal and individual identity. In this novel Bellow has given a vivid portrayal of the life of an American Man. Augie is portrayed as a quester and his adventurous journey constitutes a very loosely organised pilgrimage and he expects to meet his true fate in the end. He is in search of a peaceful and happy life. Undoubtedly, The Adventures of Augie March is a picaresque tale. The author has shown the hero travelling from one place to another and his journey certainly enriches his experiences. He becomes a sort of quester. He is a picaro, but with a purpose, he is out in the world. He yearns for a settled life, when the novel ends we find that he is married and while his journey is on, he learns to live with the hard and bitter truths of life. Augie is presented by Bellow, having a violent temperament which puts him into a different category of heroes. He may come into contact with any kind of circumstances, he would never leave hope. In spite of his exposure to wicked social surroundings he is able to maintain his composed personality. Augie refuses to accept life that is wrapped in the hidden motives and actions. In his quest for reality, Augie is not able to act according to the rules set forth by his instructors or the life style imposed on him by the society. He is being led forward by a strong faith that every adventure leads to vast meanings and hopes. Even when his efforts fetch him little, his progress cannot be obstructed. Augie goes deep down to show the basic thingsthat get together for the composure of a true and complete man. He stays away from the powers that lure, whether it is money or success.