Goethe summarized the pursuit of life’s meaning made by western intellectuals from the Renaissance to early 19th century through Faust’s exploration in knowledge, love, politics, art and career. “Henderson the Rain King” inherited and developed Faust’s spirit: though he followed the suit of Faustus’ five roads to approach truth of life, he drew a different conclusion for western intellectuals. Through a comparison between the novel of idea “Henderson the Rain King” and the poetic drama of philosophy “Faust”, western intellectual’s journey to discover value of life in several centuries can be better perceived by readers.