INTRODUCTION

In today’s generation of our country understanding romantic relationships has

become a big business. Instances of these are the continuous admiration of people to

romantic Filipino films, novels and songs that often tells a story of heartbreaks. Radio

shows that promote matchmaking and Instant dating applications that promise to help

us in finding our one true love; Constant barrage of different romantic ideologies and

the rise of the so called ‘hashtag relationship goals’ mentality in the social media. The

never ending news about celebrities and their romantic lives whether it’s on

introducing their new found love or another trending break-up of show business most

prominent personalities. All these examples show how romantic relationships

continue to be in the perennial interests of the masses. Expectations about romantic

relationships are often perfect, peaceful and grand but the continual rise of issues

about failed relationships and high demand to pass divorce in our country only tells us

that reality often falls short of the ideal. It seems that there is something wrong in the

way people understand the dynamics at play in a romantic relationship. Romantic

relationships offer happiness, oneness and the ideal of love that can make everything

possible. The ideal is tempting but defective because romantic relationships often

involve conflict and problems.

This research aims to provide an analysis of romantic relationship under the views

of two existential philosophers namely Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. An

Existential Philosophy is chosen for this study because they emphasize concrete
living over abstract notions that are particularly important in dealing with the

traditional understanding of romantic relationships.

Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are chosen not only because they give a

comprehensive analysis of the problems of romantic relationships but also because

they have brought to life their very own philosophies as long time partners. Though

they never get married or had children they have dedicated both of their lives for each

other until their deaths. Moreover, they also provide views of a man and woman

inside a romantic relationship that is helpful in conducting a balance analysis.

On the first chapter I will present Sartre’s view of a ‘sadomasochistic’

relationship. Sartre’s analysis is mainly focused on identifying its problems and his

attempt to give a solution based on his novels is incomplete and insufficient.

The second chapter will deal with Simone de Beauvoir and her view of an

authentic relationship. Beauvoir’s analysis is positively written compared to Sartre’s

view that focuses mainly on problems. Beauvoir gives emphasis on offering a

solution, her answer to Sartre’s view in which she classifies as ‘bad-faith’ (existential

version of immoral) version of love.

Nevertheless, Sartre and Beauvoir’s analysis are more descriptive than

prescriptive because as existentialists they believed that it would be ‘bad faith’ to

follow someone else’s rules. It is up to the individuals to make their own choice.

However, one can still derive from them guidelines and principles to beware of if one

is interested in making more enlightened choices in relationships.

 This existential analysis of romantic relationship does not guarantee that once

learned one will not experience failures or disappointments anymore. The

researcher’s aim is to only provide a deeper understanding of loving behavior,

dynamics and expectations so that one can be prepared in the conflicts of romantic

relationships thus, can better create authentically meaningful relationships.