The Analysis of Existentialism.doc

The Analysis of Existentialism in The French Lieutenant’s Woman Abstract: Existentialist literature is a kind of literate and art doctrine which was popularized in the 20th century of Europe. As a literature genre, it was first appeared after the second world war and had a great influence on the western literary creation. Existentialism hold that the value of an individual above all else, the separation between an individual and society is always antagonistic. It pays close attention on the condition of human existence, and an individuals emotions, actions, responsibilities, and thoughts, or the meaning or purpose of life. It confirms the principle of existence before essence’ and illustrates man’s spiritual freedom and free choice in the situation of despair and absurdity. Existential philosophers often concerned with their feelings such as freedom, pain, guilt and regret. The French Lieutenant’s Woman, written by John Fowles, a well-known contemporary English writer, used to be read as an example of post-modernist novel, but in fact it is in immersed with an intensive coloring of existentialism. This paper, then, focuses on the existentialist dimension permeated in the novel ,makes a close study of the novel and draws the conclusion that the novel exemplifies the principle idea of existentialism, i.e. everything in the world including man is originally endowed with no meaning but they acquire meaning once action is taken upon them ,which is mostly implied and carried in the heroine of the novel, Sara Woodruff. Key words: existentialism; spiritual freedom; free choice; The French Lieutenant’s Woman. The introduction of the author John Robert Fowles (31 March 1926 – 5 November 2005) was an English novelist and essayist who was educated in Oxford University. After graduated from school he became a teacher, then to be a writer engaged in writing. In 2008, The Times newspaper named Fowles among their list of The 50 greatest British writers since 1945.His novels mainl