Existentialism in Literature Essay

Existentialism in literature is a bm or tendency that emphasizes individualistic existence, palliatedom, and choice. While Existentialism was never an organized literary movement, the tenets of this philosophy wear influenced many diverse writers around the world and readers can detect existential elements in their fiction. Americans writers like William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway and potty Steinbeck reveal existential elements in their piece of music. Perhaps the most prominent theme in existential philosopher writing is that of choice.Humanitys primary distinction, in the view of most existentialists, is the freedom to exact. Because we are free to choose our own paths, existentialists have argued, we must accept the risk and responsibility of following our commitments wherever they lead. American writers hydrogen David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson often wrote about these concepts. Existentialism is not dark. It is not depressing. Existentialism is about demeanor. Exist entialists believe in lifeand in fighting for life.The politics of existentialist writers around the world varies widely, alone each seeks the most individual freedom for people within a society. Despite encompassing this wide range of philosophical, religious, and political ideologies, the be concepts of existentialism are constant ? Mankind has free entrust ? Life is a series of choices ? few decisions are without any negative consequences ? Some events and occurrences are ir noetic or absurd, without explanation. ? If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through.So existentialism, broadly defined, is a set of philosophical systems concerned with free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Because we make choices based on our experiences, beliefs, and biases, those choices are unique to usand made without an objective change of truth. There are no universal guidelines for most decisions, existentialists believe. Even trusting science is often a leap of faith. The existentialists conclude that human choice is subjective, because individuals finally must make their own choices without help from much(prenominal) external standards as laws, ethical rules, or traditions.Because individuals make their own choices, they are free but because they freely choose, they are completely responsible for their choices. The existentialists emphasize that freedom is necessarily accompanied by responsibility. Furthermore, since individuals are force to choose for themselves, they have their freedomand therefore their responsibilitythrust upon them. They are condemned to be free. Many existentialist writers stress the importance of passionate individual action in deciding questions of both personal morals and truth.Personal experience and acting on ones own convictions are essential in arriving at the truth. 17th-century French philosopher and existentialist Blaise Pascal saw human existence in terms of paradoxes. He believed that We know truth, not only by reason, but also by the heart. And as many existentialists, he acknowledges that It is the fight alone that pleases us, not the victory. The modern adage that the journey is more important than the final term applies to this idea.Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, who was the first writer to call himself existential, reacted against traditional thoughts by insisting that the highest good for the individual is to retrieve his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, I must find a truth that is true for me . . . the idea for which I can live or die. Existentialists have argued that no objective, rational basis can be found for moral decisions. The 19th-century German philosopher, Fried juicy Nietzsche contended that the individual using free will must decide which situations are to count as moral situations.He believed that There are no facts, only interpretations. . . . and he is famous for this well cognise adageThat which does not kill me, makes me stronge r. The 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky is likely the most well-known existentialist literary figure. In his book Notes from the Underground the alienated anti-hero questions experiences in life that are unpredictable and sometimes self-destructive.French writer, Jean Paul Sartre wrote that man can will nobody unless he has first understood that he must count on no one but himself that he is alone, abandoned on earth in the midst of his infinite responsibilities, without help, with no other header than the one he sets himself, with no other destiny than the one he forges for himself on this earth.There is no ultimate meaning or purpose inherent in human life in this champion life is absurd. We are forlorn, abandoned in the world to look after ourselves completely. The only foundation for value is human freedom, and that there can be no external or objective justification for the value anyone chooses to adopt. When the Swedish academy granted the Nobel Prize in Literature to Sartre for his work which, they recognized as rich in ideas and filled with the spirit of freedom and the quest for truth, that has exerted a far-reaching influence on our age, Sartre made it known that he did not wish to accept the loot. In a public announcement, in1964, Sartre expressed his regret that his refusal of the prize had given rise to a scandal, and he wished it to be known that his refusal was not meant to slight the Swedish Academy but was rather based on personal and objective reasons.Sartre pointed out that due to his conception of the writers task he had always declined official honors so this act was not unprecedented. He had withal refused other awards offered to him. He stated that a writers acceptance of such an honor would be to associate his personal commitments with the awarding institution, and that, above all, a writer should not allow himself to be rancid into an institution.