Existentialism in Literature - A Quest for Meaning in a Meaningless Life

Existential Theory

Introduction

    Existentialism is a philosophical and literary movement cum theory that emerged primarily in the 20th century in France. It focuses on individual existence, freedom, choice, and the search for meaning or purpose in life with absurd situations. In literature, existentialism as a theory explores themes such as alienation, absurdity, authenticity, freedom, identity conflicts, and the human condition.

Absurdity

    Existentialists often highlight the absurdity of human existence. They contend that life lacks inherent meaning, and individuals face a chaotic and indifferent world. This sense of absurdity prompts a search for significance in a seemingly meaningless universe. In simple terms, absurdity or absurdism highlights the struggle to live a meaningless life.

Alienation and Isolation

    Existentialist works frequently depict characters who feel disconnected from society or themselves. This sense of alienation stems from the realization that one's existence is fundamentally solitary, leading to a search for connection and meaning. The realization of the emptiness of existence leads to the disconnection. 

Existential Anxiety & Existential Enquiries

    Characters often experience existential anxiety—an overwhelming sense of dread or unease stemming from the uncertainties of existence. This existential angst arises from the realization of the inherent uncertainties and complexities of life including struggles and purpose of life, morality, mortality/death, after-life and so on. One may ask:

• "Is there a purpose or pattern behind human suffering?", 
• "If death is the end, why do people have to suffer while they live?", 
• "If death is the inevitable end, why not end it all now?" 
• "If both good and bad die at the end, what is the point of being good? 

The existential inquiries drive them anxious. 

Existentialists & Existential Literature

Existentialism - Illustration

Jean-Paul Sartre

    A prominent French figure in existentialism, Sartre emphasized the concept of existence preceding essence, advocating for radical freedom and personal responsibility in creating one's own meaning. He quotes:

One always dies too soon – or too late. And yet, life is there, finished: the line is drawn, and it must all be added up. You are nothing other than your life (Sartre).

Works of Sartre

• Being and Nothingness (1943): Sartre's philosophical magnum opus explores themes of consciousness, freedom, and the nature of existence, emphasizing human responsibility for creating personal meaning.
• Nausea (1938): The protagonist, Roquentin, experiences an existential crisis as he grapples with the absurdity of existence, exploring themes of alienation and the quest for authenticity.
• No Exit (1944): A play where three characters find themselves in a hellish afterlife, reflecting Sartre's ideas about the psychological torture of being unable to escape oneself and one's choices.

Albert Camus

    Camus, a French philosopher explored the absurdity of life and the human search for meaning in an indifferent world. He highlighted the tension between the desire for meaning and the realization of life’s inherent lack of purpose. He quotes:

Happiness is absurd (Camus).

Works of Camus

• The Stranger (1942): This novella follows the story of Meursault, who remains detached from societal norms and grapples with the absurdity of life after committing a senseless murder.
• The Myth of Sisyphus (1942): Camus explores the concept of the absurd, arguing that despite life's inherent lack of meaning, individuals can find purpose and happiness through revolt against the absurd.
• The Plague (1947): Set in a town struck by an epidemic, the novel explores human responses to suffering, the meaning of solidarity, and the absurdity of existence in the face of inevitable death.

Friedrich Nietzsche

    While not considered a traditional existentialist, Nietzsche’s ideas greatly influenced existential thought. He famously proclaimed the death of God, emphasizing the need for individuals to create their own values and meanings. He quotes:

To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering (Nietzsche).

 Works of Nietzsche 

• Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883): This philosophical novel presents the character Zarathustra, who delivers proclamations on the Übermensch (Overman/Superman) and the death of God. It explores themes of individualism, self-overcoming, and the reevaluation of values.
• Beyond Good and Evil (1886): In this work, Nietzsche critiques traditional moral philosophy, questioning the binary notions of good and evil. He delves into the complexities of morality, suggesting that values are not universal truths but products of cultural conditioning.
• The Birth of Tragedy (1872): Nietzsche analyzes Greek tragedy and the contrast between the Apollonian (order) and the Dionysian (chaos). He examines the origins of art and the tension between rationality and primal instincts in human nature.

Connection with Nihilism

    Nihilism is the belief that life lacks intrinsic meaning, purpose, or inherent value. It asserts that all values are baseless, and nothing can be known or communicated. It can be seen as a more extreme form of existentialism, where the acknowledgement of life's lack of inherent meaning leads to a sense of despair or hopelessness or apathy. Some existentialist thinkers, particularly early existentialists like Nietzsche, grappled with nihilistic ideas before developing their own philosophies.

Conclusion

    Through philosophical discourse and literary expression, existentialism delves into the profound complexities of human existence. Absurdity permeates this philosophical landscape, reflecting the struggle to find significance/purpose/meaning in a universe seemingly devoid of inherent meaning. Characters in existentialist literature grapple with isolation, alienation, and existential anxiety, driving them to confront existential inquiries regarding suffering, mortality, morality, and the ultimate purpose of life. 

    The works of eminent existentialists—Sartre's emphasis on radical freedom and responsibility, Camus' exploration of the tension between the desire for meaning and life's lack of inherent purpose, and Nietzsche's influential concepts of the Übermensch and reevaluation of values—stand as pillars of this movement. 

    It should be noted that existentialism shares a threshold with nihilism, where the acknowledgement of life's lack of meaning diverges into despair or the freedom to create individualized significance. In short, existentialism explores our endless quest for meaning in a world that seems to lack any inherent purpose or have no meaning—a constant quest for significance in a seemingly meaningless existence.