A movement in philosophy belonging to the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, associated with famous figures like Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Kierkegaard known for their ground-breaking philosophical theories, Existentialism emphasizes on the meaninglessness of life and the absurdity of human suffering. There is no “higher” order of things that exist in the universe and no rational understanding of the events of the world. Etymologically, the word “existence” finds its derivation in the Latin language wherein the term “existere” corresponds to standing out.

Everything has been figured out, except how to live – Sartre

In ancient Greece, philosophers like Aristotle and Plato insisted on the notion of “essence”; a set of properties that made something that it is, implying that every individual possessed a pre-determined essence, the meaning of one’s life is pre-destined. Essence precedes existence. Existentialism, on the contrary, completely refutes such a claim suggesting that there is, in fact, no meaning that is already decided upon by any form of authority, and all meaning depends on the individual himself. God did not define any inherent purpose and rather condemned human life with absolute freedom.

“Existence precedes essence”. {Sartre, 1945}

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Such an idea of freedom can perhaps be pleasing to many of the world, the possibility of being completely devoid of any authoritative cosmic power, order or set of rules, allowing one to determine his own path with his own perceptions of what he believes in, a sort of “carte-blanche” allowing one to act as he may and craft a purpose of life for himself as he pleases. However, such emancipation can be problematic for humans have always been creatures that look up to a certain kind of “control”, be it God, religion or any government for that matter. Existentialism proposes that we were not put in by any benevolent deity to spend our life looking for salvation; we are beings liberated by an indifferent universe, our continuous attempt to seek a purpose is futile.

Quoting Robert Solomon from “Hegel to Existentialism”,

“{Existentialism} is an attitude that recognizes the unresolvable confusion yet resists the all-too-human temptation to resolve the confusion by grasping toward whatever appears or can be made to appear firm or familiar…the existential attitude begins with a disoriented individual facing a confused world that he cannot accept”

Writers have often turned to the existentialist philosophy in order to underscore the efforts made by dejected and alienated characters and their dilemma on facing various choices in life. Some of the most significant examples of literary existentialism can be found in the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a Russian novelist known to have protested against the philosophical argument that universe must be treated as a rational and systematic body of ideas and matter- an argument that existentialism criticizes. The idea advocating the absence of any rational patterns of existence has been vocalized in Dostoyevsky’s “Notes from the Underground” wherein an anti-hero, alienated by his circumstances, embodies a struggle against the optimistic assumption of the rationalist humanism that fosters around him.

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A major theme dealt with in the novels of Albert Camus, a French-Algerian journalist, is the notion that human life is, objectively speaking, meaningless which in turn results in a kind of absurdity only to be overcome by a commitment towards moral integrity and social solidarity. According to Camus, the absurd is produced through a conflict between our expectation of a rational, just universe and the actual universe that is quite indifferent to all of our expectations. The intimation of existentialism that focuses on alienation is brought to life in Camus’ short story “The Guest” as the protagonist, Daru, is completely isolated in his empty schoolhouse on a desert plateau that embodies the absurd indifference in the part of nature. However, Daru does seek comfort in the harsh weather and is portrayed as an individual who refuses to conform to any authority as he rejects taking an Arab and handing him over to French authorities for punishment, even in the face of rebellion. The emphasis on independent choices is brought about by the Arab prisoner himself, as at the end of the short story, he is placed at a crossroads, to pick for himself whether he wishes to seek refuge among the Nomads or to give in to punishment in the light of his crime. Much to Daru’s dismay, the Arab chooses the latter.

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Philosophers like Nietzsche have maintained recognition of the human perspective rather than a divine perspective in defining a human condition discrediting the system establishments of several religions that base themselves upon pronouncements of perspectives made through prophets who often speak of a sort of immortality. The philosophy we speak of refuses to adhere to such an idea and recognizes the elation that shall be associated with the acceptance of mortality and the process of frame-working one’s own perspective. Nietzsche did, however, identify the complexity of taking up such a task as he warned in poetic verse,

Injustice and filth, they throw after the lonely one: but, my brother, if you would be a star, you must not shine less for them because of that. And beware of the good and just! They like to crucify those who invent their own virtue for themselves- they hate the lonely one

Another major testament that is structured around existentialist philosophy is “Waiting for Godot”, a play from Samuel Beckett’s theatre, known to have sown the seeds of breaking away from traditional theatrical practices, in its abandoning of the emphasis on large number of characters or even any recognizable action in the play with a rational course. It’s a play where “nothing happens twice” which in itself establishes the work as a significant demonstration of existentialism. Vladimir and Estragon await Godot, perhaps standing for a kind of divine authority that could guide them in their action. “Waiting for Godot” brings about the preposterous nature of looking for such a purpose or direction from an external authority by initiating frustration and inaccessibility which can precisely serve to define existence.

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The principles of Existentialism and Nihilism have often been wrongly defined with similar terms, prompting an understanding that absolutely interconnects the two thoughts which are a flawed practice. Although the two schools of thought may seem to echo the same ideas, existentialism emphasizes on a meaning sought by one while nihilism exercises a complete renouncement of any possibility of such a meaning.

To conclude, the existential thought is best described by the tale of Sisyphus, condemned to push a boulder up a mountain and view it roll back down for eternity ,which directs us to note a frustratingly pointless toil at the end of which Sisyphus recognizes the strength he had established through the suffering, thereby attributing a meaning to his struggle. Sisyphus embodies a true existentialist hero.