SELECTED SHORT STORY

OF
ALBERT CAMUS
EXISTENTIALISM
IN THE
The Adulterous Woman SELECTED WORK
OF
ALBERT CAMUS

Aspects of EXISTENTIALISM: ANALYZED

~ALIENATION
~FREEDOM
~MORAL INDIVIDUALISM

Figure 1

A Conceptual Model of Existentialism in the selected work of Albert Camus.

Statement of the Problem

The researchers aimed to explore the concept of Existentialism that is

revealed in the selected work of Albert Camus.

Specifically sought to answer the following aspects:

1.) How did Existentialism illustrate the following aspects;

1.1 Alienation

1.2 Freedom of Choice and Commitment

1.3 Moral Individualism?

2.) How did the short story illustrate the elements such as:

2.1 Characterization

2.2 Setting

2.3 Theme

2.4 Plot

2.5 Imagery and Symbolism?

Definition of Terms

Alienation (Enstrangement)

( l y -n sh n) NOUN:

Alienation is the estrangement from other people, society, or work.

Psychiatrists consider alienation a blocking or dissociation of a person's feelings.

Some philosophers believe that alienation is produced by a shallow and

depersonalized society. Fourth-century theologian Saint Augustine wrote that

due to its sinful nature, humanity was alienated from God. To Austrian

psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, alienation resulted from the split between the

conscious and unconscious parts of the mind. French social theorist Émile

Durkheim suggested that alienation stemmed from a loss of societal and religious

tradition. Existentialists saw some measure of alienation as an inevitable part of

the human condition.

Freedom and Commitment

(fr d m) (k -m t m nt) NOUN:

Perhaps the most prominent theme in existentialist writing is that of

choice. Humanity's primary distinction, in the view of most existentialists, is the

freedom to choose. Existentialists have held that human beings do not have a

fixed nature, or essence, as other animals and plants do; each human being
makes choices that create his or her own nature. In the formulation of the 20th-

century French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre, existence precedes essence.

Choice is therefore central to human existence, and it is inescapable; even the

refusal to choose is a choice. Freedom of choice entails commitment and

responsibility. Because individuals are free to choose their own path,

existentialists have argued, they must accept the risk and responsibility of

following their commitment wherever it leads.

Moral Individualism

(môr l n d -v j - -l z m) NOUN:

Most philosophers since Plato have held that the highest ethical good is

the same for everyone; insofar as one approaches moral perfection, one

resembles other morally perfect individuals. The 19th-century Danish philosopher

Søren Kierkegaard, who was the first writer to call himself existential, reacted

against this tradition by insisting that the highest good for the individual is to find

his or her own unique vocation. As he wrote in his journal, "I must find a truth that

is true for me ... the idea for which I can live or die." Other existentialist writers

have echoed Kierkegaard's belief that one must choose one's own way without

the aid of universal, objective standards. Against the traditional view that moral

choice involves an objective judgment of right and wrong, existentialists have

argued that no objective, rational basis can be found for moral decisions. The
19th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche further contended that the

individual must decide which situations are to count as moral situations. [1]

Characterization

(kăr'ək-tər-ĭ-zā'shən) NOUN:

Characterisation or characterization is the process of conveying

information about characters in narrative or dramatic works of art or everyday

conversation. Characters may be presented by means of description, through

their actions, speech, or thoughts. [2]

Setting

(s t ng) NOUN:

The position, direction, or way in which something, such as an automatic

control, is set.

a. The context and environment in which a situation is set; the

background.

b. The time, place, and circumstances in which a narrative, drama, or

film takes place. [3]

Theme

(th m) NOUN:

A theme is the main idea of an essay, paragraph, or a book. The idea

about life is revealed in a work of literature. The message may be about life,

society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas

and may be implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character,

setting, and style, theme is considered one of the fundamental components of

fiction.It is the universal statement or feels when you read a piece of writing. [4]

Plot

(pl t) NOUN:

The pattern of events or main story in a narrative or drama.

Imagery and Symbolism

(ĭm'ĭj-rē) (s m b -l z m) NOUN:

1. The practice of representing things by means of symbols or of

attributing symbolic meanings or significance to objects, events, or relationships.

2. A system of symbols or representations.

3. A symbolic meaning or representation.

Foot Notes:

1.> http://dividingline.com

2.> http://en.wikipedia.org

3.> http://education.yahoo.com

4.> http://education.yahoo.com