Henderson the Rain King Themes & Symbolism

Henderson the Rain King Significant Topics

Longing and Satisfaction

Henderson feels that he has a disturbance in his heart, in the form of a voice that says, "I want, I want!" When he tries to suppress it gets stronger, and it will not ever tell him exactly what it wants. Henderson tries many things to satisfy this longing, including playing the violin, getting drunk and shouting at his wife, but the sense of dissatisfaction only begins to dissipate when he travels to Africa. King Dahfu tries to show Henderson that this longing or "imprisoned want" is the driving force behind Henderson's strength. Dahfu also likens the voice to a "long prison term" and suggests that the voice will persist until Henderson has replied. (p. 233.)

Henderson later realizes that he has gone about finding out what the voice wanted in the wrong way because instead of saying "I want," the voice "should have told me she wants, he wants,...
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