In theory, existentialists consider that to apologize adult male ‘s being is an absurd enterprise, because they believe that life itself is absurd. For them, life is simply a transition of clip, finally concluded by decease. That humans desire to impute a significance to life is a unpointed compulsion. Therefore, in the shortness of being, one must enthusiastically prosecute one ‘s ain single picks and strong beliefs. Both Albert Camus in The Outsider and Samuel Beckett in Waiting for Godot expose the sheer uncertainness of life and its cruel indifference to humanity. In The Outsider Meursualt assumes a degage being, staying indifferent to life ‘s tests and trials. In Waiting for Godot Vladimir and Estragon attempt to remain preoccupied while waiting for a adult male named Godot, who will possibly ne’er come. In both the Foreigner by Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett ‘s Waiting for Godot, the writers use their characters and their actions in relation to the universe around them to show the subject of existential philosophy.
In Albert Camus ‘s The Outsider, Meursault, the chief character, seems to hold his emotions “ disabled ” most of the clip, which makes it possible for him to be an perceiver of his ain life, watching it as an “ foreigner ” . Because the book is written in first individual, and Meursault describes everything that happens to him in a really elaborate manner, yet missing appropriate emotion, the reader rapidly becomes cognizant of how degage Meursault is. A good illustration of this can be found in the first twosome of lines of the book.
“ Mother died today. Or possibly yesterday. I do n’t cognize. I had a wire from the place: ‘mother passed off. Funeral tomorrow. Yours unfeignedly. ‘ That does n’t intend anything. It may hold been yesterday. ”
In the quotation mark above, Meursault describes how he found out that his female parent has passed off. The normal human head would get down to believe about the female parent and experience sad, nevertheless, the lone thing that seems to busy Meursault ‘s attending is the inquiry of whether or non mother died “ today, or possibly yesterday ” .
Meursault stating ; “ That does n’t intend anything ” could be interpreted in 2 ways. It could be taken as portion of his confusion as to which twenty-four hours his female parent died. And hence he states that the wire does n’t any utile information about the twenty-four hours his female parent died. On the other manus, the remark could besides be interpreted more deeply. Meursault might be stating that the decease of his female parent does n’t count at all. This introduces the reader to the construct of the inutility of human being, a subject that can be seen throughout the novel. In the beginning of the novel, Meursault leads a really simple life, in which he fundamentally Judgess the universe around him by being bored or non trouble oneselfing plenty to care, and as the novel progresses Meursault himself becomes the 1 who is judged. No affair how little he cared about anything around him in the yesteryear, Meursault can non assist being affected by his ain nearing decease. This character development allows the writer to develop his existential philosopher subject. It sends the message to the reader that life is truly absurd, and that worlds try to happen rational replies when being is rather apathetic to reason. The most absurd thing is that Meursault really accepts this absurdness in his life, and refuses the “ unreal ” standard replies like the sorts faiths offer.
In the foreigner, Meursault ‘s slaying of the Arab is another illustration of existential philosophy.
“ The light leapt off the steel and it was like a long, blinking blade lunging at my foreheadaˆ¦aˆ¦all I could experience were the cymbals the Sun was colliding against my brow and, dimly, the dazzling lance still jumping up off the knife in forepart of me. It was like a juicy blade gnawing at my ciliums and force outing out my cutting eyes. ”
In this extract, the reader is once more confronted with the absurdness of Meursault. The slaying makes it a good portraiture of the construct of existential philosophy. The Arab draws his knife and holds it up to Meursault, but this is non what seems to truly fusss him. It is the intense heat and the visible radiation from the Sun that shoots off the Arab ‘s knife that irritates him.
As this animal feeling overwhelms him, Meursault says, “ My whole being tensed and I squeezed my manus around the six-gun ” . This excerpt demonstrates Meursault ‘s is estranged to both his experiences in life and to human nature. Most of Meursault ‘s actions have no true witting motivations. Meursault feels physical uncomfortableness with his milieus. As a consequence of this uncomfortableness he consciously makes the determination to hit the Arab. Later in the novel when Meursault is arrested he is asked if he would wish an lawyer.
“ Then he wanted to cognize if I ‘d take a attorney. I confessed that I had n’t and ask whether it was perfectly necessary to hold one. ‘Why do you inquire? ‘ he said. I replied that I thought my instance was really simple. He smiled and said, ‘That ‘s your sentiment. But this is the jurisprudence. If you do n’t take a attorney yourself, we ‘ll appointment one for you automatically. ‘ ”
In this citation, the existentialist positions of the writer are carried across by Meursault ‘s interaction with the magistrate. Meursault is told that he has to hold a attorney, and that if he does n’t take one ; they will “ name one for you automatically ” . This shows the existentialist positions of the writer because the kernel of existential philosophy prevarications in the freedom of pick. In this extract, Meursault is confused because he feels he does non necessitate a attorney. To him his instance is simple: he killed person and is prepared for the effects. However, the pick of whether or non to hold a attorney is taken off from him. This may be demoing how the writer is knocking society through the Sue of existential philosophy. What it is rebelliously demoing is how Albert Camus is utilizing the milieus of Meursault to expose elements of existential philosophy.
In Waiting for Godot, the drama is centered on two work forces, Estragon and Vladimir, who are waiting for a Mr. Godot, of whom they know small. Estragon acknowledges that he does n’t even cognize what godot looks like. “ Personally I would n’t cognize him if I of all time saw him. ” . Estragon besides comments, “ aˆ¦ we barely know him. “ , which shows to the reader that the character of Mr. Godot is non of import, as small inside informations about him are given throughout the drama. The enigma behind the individuality of Godot, and the guess behind his individuality may reflect Beckett ‘s existentialist positions. Because the reader is ne’er revealed the individuality of Godot, so prosecuting that information is ineffectual. In similar manner, an existential philosopher would state that the significance of life is ne’er revealed, so hence prosecuting it is ineffectual. This construct is reflected by the conversations of the supporters.
“ Tarragon: And if he does n’t come?
Vladimir: We ‘ll come back tomorrow
Tarragon: And so the twenty-four hours after tomorrow.
Vladimir: Possibly.
Tarragon: And so on.
Vladimir: The point is –
Tarragon: Until he comes. ”
In this extract, the two supporters discuss how their being at the minute is suspended, because until Godot comes, they can non go forth for fright of losing him if he does come. When looking at the line: “ And if he does n’t come ” it becomes evident that the he may be mentioning to the significance of life. This clearly reflects how Beckett may be utilizing the figure of Godot to typify existentialist subjects. In this visible radiation, this infusion could be stating that trying to happen the significance of life, will merely ensue otiose clip. What is an of import component of the drama is the act of waiting for person or something that ne’er arrives. This subject is further developed throughout the book, as can be seen in the undermentioned extract:
“ Tarragon: aˆ¦ Let ‘s travel.
Vladimir: We ca n’t.
Tarragon: Why non?
Vladimir: We ‘re waiting for Godot. ”
This peculiar extract is repeated frequently thought the drama. This symbolizes the subject of existential philosophy because, the kernel of existential philosophy dressed ores on the person ‘s freedom of pick, as opposed to the belief that people are “ enslaved ” to an baleful creative activity, such as God. Estragon and Vladimir have decided to wait, even though they were non told or ordered to make so. This can be seen throughout the drama ; for illustration Vladimir says, “ He did n’t state for certain he ‘d come ” , but decides to “ wait till we know precisely how we stand ” .
