In "Henderson the Rain King," Saul Bellow explores the concepts of time, suffering, and happiness. The idea proposed is that time was created to allow for the end of misery, suggesting that without the passage of time, suffering could be endless. This viewpoint highlights the idea that time serves a crucial purpose in providing relief from pain and hardship.

Conversely, bliss is portrayed as a timeless state, where the joys of life transcend the limitations of time. When one experiences true happiness, the regular measures of time seem irrelevant, indicating a profound connection to the present moment. This duality of misery and bliss suggests that while suffering is bound by time, happiness exists outside of it, creating a stark contrast between the two experiences.