Existentialism in literature deals with big ideas about meaning and the absurdity of life. This is especially seen in books like "Nausea" by Jean-Paul Sartre, "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, and "No Exit" also by Sartre. These stories look at how people search for purpose in a world that often seems uncaring.
In "Nausea," the main character, Antoine Roquentin, feels very disconnected from everything around him. He realizes that things and people don’t come with built-in meanings. This makes him feel nauseous, which is a strong reaction to simply existing. This idea shows that life can feel ridiculous. Roquentin learns that people need to create their own purpose. For example, he starts to see how silly everyday routines can be and how social rules feel fake. The key point is that life may seem pointless, but it's up to each person to find their own meaning by making choices.
In "The Stranger," the character Meursault shows how absurd life can be. He seems emotionally distant and doesn’t care much about what society expects from him. When his mother dies, he is more bothered by the heat than by her death. This highlights how strange human life can be. Later, when Meursault goes to trial for murder, it shows how society tries to add meaning to actions that might not have any real value. By rejecting traditional ideas of right and wrong, Meursault faces the absurdity of life and finds freedom in accepting that life is random. The takeaway here is that accepting life’s absurdity can lead to being true to oneself.
In Sartre’s play "No Exit," the famous quote "Hell is other people" sums up the story well. The characters, Garcin, Inès, and Estelle, are stuck in a room together. This forces them to face their past actions and how others judge them. Their dependence on each other shows how silly it is to seek self-worth and meaning just through other people. Each character deals with feelings of anxiety differently, and this reveals that fooling ourselves and relying on others can lead to pain. The main message of "No Exit" is that people need to face their existence and take charge of creating their own meaning instead of just following what society says.
Through stories like "Nausea," "The Stranger," and "No Exit," we learn that meaning isn’t something that just appears; we have to create it ourselves through our choices and actions. These works highlight the existential idea that, even when we face a confusing and uncaring world, it's our job to find our own way, enjoy our freedom, and recognize the importance of our decisions as we seek meaning. In the end, facing the absurd can lead to living a real and meaningful life, despite the chaos of existence.
Existentialism in literature deals with big ideas about meaning and the absurdity of life. This is especially seen in books like "Nausea" by Jean-Paul Sartre, "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, and "No Exit" also by Sartre. These stories look at how people search for purpose in a world that often seems uncaring.
In "Nausea," the main character, Antoine Roquentin, feels very disconnected from everything around him. He realizes that things and people don’t come with built-in meanings. This makes him feel nauseous, which is a strong reaction to simply existing. This idea shows that life can feel ridiculous. Roquentin learns that people need to create their own purpose. For example, he starts to see how silly everyday routines can be and how social rules feel fake. The key point is that life may seem pointless, but it's up to each person to find their own meaning by making choices.
In "The Stranger," the character Meursault shows how absurd life can be. He seems emotionally distant and doesn’t care much about what society expects from him. When his mother dies, he is more bothered by the heat than by her death. This highlights how strange human life can be. Later, when Meursault goes to trial for murder, it shows how society tries to add meaning to actions that might not have any real value. By rejecting traditional ideas of right and wrong, Meursault faces the absurdity of life and finds freedom in accepting that life is random. The takeaway here is that accepting life’s absurdity can lead to being true to oneself.
In Sartre’s play "No Exit," the famous quote "Hell is other people" sums up the story well. The characters, Garcin, Inès, and Estelle, are stuck in a room together. This forces them to face their past actions and how others judge them. Their dependence on each other shows how silly it is to seek self-worth and meaning just through other people. Each character deals with feelings of anxiety differently, and this reveals that fooling ourselves and relying on others can lead to pain. The main message of "No Exit" is that people need to face their existence and take charge of creating their own meaning instead of just following what society says.
Through stories like "Nausea," "The Stranger," and "No Exit," we learn that meaning isn’t something that just appears; we have to create it ourselves through our choices and actions. These works highlight the existential idea that, even when we face a confusing and uncaring world, it's our job to find our own way, enjoy our freedom, and recognize the importance of our decisions as we seek meaning. In the end, facing the absurd can lead to living a real and meaningful life, despite the chaos of existence.