Existentialism Essay

‘The Men Running Past’ by Franz Kafka is a narrative drowned in obscurity and suspense. Kafka creates an atmosphere putting the reader at an unease since they are given a situation in which they must consider their own actions. Using several devices Kafka convinces the reader of a murder which doesn’t actually take place. The plot presents a hypothetical situation; the reader and the voice see a man running by them and it is theorises why the man might be running. The overarching conclusion is…

(Throughout the graphic novel) “Level up” the steady development of Human Spirit is very apparent in the main character Dennis. I believe that the quote “I am living the life of any man’s dreams, But why was I not happy?” shows Dennis’s final stage of development and his projections of rationality, and a desire for a better self. One of Dennis’s previous patient had just thanked him for his life saving acts, and this triggered a switch deep (within his heart). Dennis began to question where he…

Notes from Underground Notes from Underground is a novel of notes that the Underground Man writes which expresses his alienation. There are two sections of Notes from Underground, with “Underground” being a shorter version. In the first version, the Underground Man gives an introduction to his position in society. In “Apropos of the Wet Snow,” Underground Man gives events in his life during the 1840’s through the 1860’s. The Underground Man is alienated from all of the people who inhabit this…

De Beauvoir, Simone. "The Second Sex." Anatomy and Destiny. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 117-24. Print. Beauvoir’s text The Second Sex serves as the main focal point for my research. This piece is highly feministic and explores many of the discriminatory aspects that women experienced during the specific time period in which the text is written. Beauvoir’s main criticism is that women are characterized as the Other by society as a whole. Meanwhile, man assumes the role of the Self. Throughout the text…

The title of the novel chosen is The Stranger written by Albert Camus. The setting is centered around the country of Algeria, mainly within the capital Algiers, in the 1940s. The setting proves to be a very significant aspect of the story as it coincides with the culture within it. During the point of time in which the novel takes place, a large amount of French influence can be found due to its status as a French colony. The most obvious cultural element prevalent within the literary work is…

Ethics as a theme of philosophy, explores the right or wrong in the actions a person chooses to do. The philosophy of moral ethics will be evaluated in both, Albert Camus’ “The Stranger,” and Dostoevsky’s “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man.” This theme of ethics will be analyzed throughout the evaluation of societal interactions, thoughts, and the author's presentation of the protagonist in each work. In “The Stranger” by Albert Camus, the main protagonist, Meursault, provides a narrative…

The Development of Marie as a Foil in Camus’ The Stranger In The Stranger, Albert Camus utilizes stylistic and structural elements in order to portray the character of Meursault as exemplifying absurd philosophical ideas and behavior. Many of the minor characters in the novel have storylines that simply serve to emphasize such traits in the novel. The most prominent example of this is the use of Meursault’s reconnection and subsequent romance with a former typist in his office, Marie Cardona.…

exists only to the extent that he realizes himself. He is his own project. Therefore, he is always in the process. And he can only realize himself when he realizes that he is condemned to be free. There are no excuses. He has nothing to rely on (Existentialism is a Humanism 37). He comes to know about something else that was not known before. He is confronted with loneliness. He is, naturally, curious and terrified. The layers within him turn themselves out. He is able to understand himself as a…

Frankenstein Essay According to Existentialist philosophers, we as humans seek to find our definition of self and the exist as an individual of free will rather than a manifestation of cultural and societal oppression. Existentialism asserts that our existence and self-governing will is the truth, whilst the relinquishment to societal rules and pressures is the lie. Prometheus exemplified the concept of limitations, the idea that one must never be impudent enough to reach for the “forbidden”.…

In the aftermath of World War II, a change in the theatre took place. Due to the recent war and colonization, the public began to “question authority, challenge precedent, and debunk mythologies associated with power and prestige.” This revolution was deemed “postmodernism” because people started questioning the objectiveness of modern history and artist began exploring ideas outside of the classical form. This ‘postmodernism’ is evident in the world of theatre because playwrights began to…