Existential wahhhhh? Or, your first existential crisis

Existentialism has its beginnings as a philosophical perspective that emphasizes the concept that the world is inherently irrational and illogical. It is in the face of this that humans strive to behave in a rational manner. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, existentialism is concerned with the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong. Because there is no inherent meaning to life, the individual must establish what life will mean to them. This can be a particularly frightening concept because if one were to fail or falter in the pursuit of this “meaning” they would be solely and utterly responsible. To be faced with the meaninglessness of the world can be devastating but at the same time an enlightening experience. It is how we define ourselves in an irrational world that creates our identity. The concept of both angst and freedom are also integral to understanding existentialism.

“Picture yourself on a cliff. At this point you not only fear
falling off it, but you also dread the possibility of throwing
yourself off. At this moment you understand that nothing
is holding you back. The realization of the lack of anything
that predetermines if you fall or stand still allows you to
experience your true freedom.”

Authors use the concept of existentialism both to further their characterizations as well as the plot of their literary works. Existentialism is an essential part of a character’s discovery of their identity, or rather their realization that they define there own identify and are free to live in a manner of their choosing. This type of thought process also helps an author develop their plot because in the end, the world they create does not need to behave rationally, merely the people within them do. And it is not so much that a character must behave rationally, they must realize that it is there choice to act rationally. But by making their decision, they ultimately impact both their view of the world and the world they live in.

Existentialisms use as an analytical lens can be particularly insightful in that it can allow a reader to see the inner works of a character because it grants insight into how that character defines the world in which they live. This definition allows a reader to more closely identify with the author’s purpose and can be used to demonstrate freedom even when it is not apparent within the plot. Existentialism as a lens also has a self-reflecting aspect because it can force the reader to reconsider there own approach to life.