Abstract
This scientific writing is about
the influence of Existential philosophers to modern American writers. This
influence indicates individual aspects toward American existence illustrated in
the novels, plays,
poetry and short stories by modern American authors in today’s time. The
aspects of individuality of the man elaborates human exile related to Absurdity
Key words: absurdity; existence;
existential; existentialist, influence
I.
INTRODUCTION
The central problem in existential
philosophy by the philosophers of existentialism is the meaning of existence
(What does exist mean? What are the implications of answers to this question
for man’s action in daily life?).This problem has concerned philosophers since
the beginning of time, but the twentieth-century existentialism has given
it a special emphasis. The modern
movement began to be recognized in Europe in the year following World War I and
achieved great popularity during and following World War II(Oscar G.Brochett,1964 :344)
If we
are talking about the influence
of existential philosophers to some of American writers, we may not get rid of
talking and seeing the most widely known writers of this school Jean-Paul
Sartre (1905) and Albert Camus (1913-1960).The
two figures of the writers to modern existential philosophers. Sartre has been
one of the principal spokesmen for existentialism.The concept of Sartre through
existentialism is that he has stated all his works as an attempt to draw
logical conclusions from a consistent atheism (G.Brochett,1964
:344).While Albert Camus,a french philosopher had much the same view of
man’s condition but he called it “The Absurd”. Camus said that the absurdity
arises from the clash between human hopes and desires and the meaningless
universe in which man lives.
II.
DISCUSSION
Based on the concepts of the two
existentialists’ ideas about the meaning of existence ,a question may be
presumably asked such as what is the real influence of existentialists to
modern American writers in the 20th century
literature? This question may be presumably asked such as what is the real influence of existentialists to modern American
writers in the 20th century literature? This question may
arise due to the fact that some of the American writers had been influenced
since the human existence. The first of the absurd dramatist to come into
prominence in America was Samuel Beckett (1906) with his
work Waiting for Godot. As the implication
of the above, the four characters of the play seem to have absurdity. The four characters have different characteristics of life. Fladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot which leads them to
wait for nothingness. They are waiting for Godot because they think that Godot
comes down and gives them a help and protection. But, Godot will not appear.
In Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett
also exposes the human relationship among the characters like Vladimir,
Estragon and Pozzo, as a master. Pozzo who has been considered a master treats Lucky very badly
like an animal. His concern with
Lucky is tied up using a rope as a
symbol of human relation. Even though Lucky
is only a slave treated by Pozzo, but he knows that
Pozzo may not separate himself from Lucky himself. As a matter of fact, Pozzo says that he
may not be isolated from societies. Let’s see the
conversation of the characters as an implication of Pozzo’s statement.
Pozzo : Up hog!
(Noise of Lucky getting up and
Picking up his
baggage.Pozzo jerks the rope)
.......................
Whip! Lucky
advances, stoops, Pozzo snatches
The whip from his
mouth, Lucky goes back to
his place) Yes, gentlemen,I can not go for long
Without the
societies of life.(Beckett,1965 :24)
The influence of existential
philosophers to modern American writers can be seen to some of American writers
like Robert Frost, Edward Albee, John Barth, Saul Bellow, Emily Dickinson and
some other American writers of the 20th, century literature. In Robert Frost’ the Mending Wall, he
emphasizes that human existence seems to be absurd as the aftermath of the
Second World War.
2.
Robert
Frost directly stated that the relationship among them had broken a true
civilization and specific tradition of human condition. It seems that man is
rather selfish. Man only thinks of himself without having a response to others.
This can be seen in Frost’ work, The Mending Wall.
Something there is that doesn’t love wall, that
sends the frozen ground-swell under it, and
Spills the upper boulders in the sun, and makes
Gaps even two can pass a breast.(Frost,1-4:216)
Frost seems to hate man’s
separation with wall that will not give them a fresh relationship. Man, however, may not
be egoist; he should be
involved in societies. In the above poem, Frost emphasizes that man is chaotic. Frost himself does not like separation from another, he would like the man
were united. He, therefore, gives a warning for men, not to be exiled
from societies.
Edward Albee as one of the American
writers in the 20th, century literature was also
influenced by the concept of existentialists’ philosophy whereas he tried to
expose the human relation throughout The Zoo Story which might be seen in some
of the characters’ behavior. The two
characters of the play, Jerry and Peter seem to have no good relationship. The
conversation of the two characters can be identified as follows:
Jerry:
I’ll tell you why I do it.I don’t talk to many
Many people except to say like : give me a beer,or
where’s the John,or what time does the feature
go on, or keep
your hands to yourself, buddy,
You know-things like that,
Peter : I must say I don’t..............
(Edward Albee,1959 : 17)
3
The style of The Zoo Story is
absurdist. The Conversation between the two characters, Peter and Jerry shows a great difficult which people have communicated; They simply do not understand each other. Jerry gives Peter a knife and makes Peter kill him. With this
self-sacrifice, and his talk of
love, Jerry becomes a Christ figure. Actually, the message of the play is not
absurd at all. Albee is really saying that people can and must break out of
their loneliness. Peter can not return to be a person at all alone in the world
after his experience with Jerry.
Another figure of American writer
of the 20th, century literature who was influenced by existentialism
was John Barth. His work,The Floating Operas and The End of the Road are typical. Existential Comedies. The first
novel of Barth is about a man who decides to commit suicide because the world
is meaningless.
The extension of the
existentialists’ influence to American writers in the 20
th century literature had emerged and the novelist like Saul Bellow was also
involved to be the most of the Jewish American novelist. His first novel, Danglin
Man (1944) is about a man waiting to be called the army
during World War II, Saul Bellow wants to know what we are, and what we are
for. He seems to fail to get any answers. In fact, he concludes that the world
is meaningless and his life is has no purpose. In this novel, Saul Bellow
replaces a hero who feels unhappy with his life in New York City. The tall
faceless buildings and crowded street seem inhuman. He feels”alienated”,
unconnected to the world around him.
In accordance with some of the modern
American writers about the influence of existentialists, the American
writers seem to be affected and their
concepts towards the influence was true according the condition
of societies in modern time. In the Outline of American literature, P:13),Saul Bellow directly
states that the existentialists had a specific purpose to determine the human action in today’s time.
The existentialists in their philosophy of existentialism say that man is completely alone in a meaningless world
without God or absolute moral laws. We are completely free. But, this is not always
happy freedom since we have no “god-given” nature, free choices and action in
life become extremely important.They determine our nature as human beings. Existential
writers such as Sartre and Camus become popular in America at this time.
4.
In case of human relationship,
Emily Dickinson was one of the modern American writers who were influenced by existentialism.
She scrutinized the condition of American societies in the 29th
century. Emily Dickinson’s poem entitled there’s been a Death, is a narrative
poem which talks about the social problems and human relationship. She tends to
acknowledge that the American people at that time were so much individualistic
and human relation becomes degraded. The poet seems to be hopeless to see her
people behave in modern time. The American people become selfish and like to be
isolated from the societies. Let’s see Dickinson’s poem of how she explains the
characteristics of American people at this time.
There’s been a death in the opposite house
As lately as today
The neighbor rustles in and out
The doctor drives away
A window opens like a pod;
Abrupt, mechanically.
Somebody
thinks a mattress but,
The children hurry by
They wonder—it died and that
I used to when a boy
The minister goes stiffly in.
III.CONCLUSION
Having studied the influence of
existentialists to modern American writers, the writer of this scientific
writing tends to draw conclusions as follows:
1.Most of the modern
American writers are influenced by existentialists ‘philosophy since the
philosophers of existentialism study the condition of man’s life in the
meaningless universe.
2.Since existentialists
’philosophy concerns about man’s existence, modern American writers begin to
think and expose the quality and the characteristics of American people in
today’s time. The American existence
seems to show individualism. This effect may arise in relation to modern
technology and new invention in the era of globalization and the belief of man
towards religion becomes less and less.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Albee,Edward,.1959.The Zoo Story.New York:Coward-Mc Cann,Inc.
Beckett,Samuel.1965.Waiting for Godot.London:Curtis Brown,Ltd.
Bode,
Carld.1983.High Light of American Literature.United States
Information Agency.Washington,D.C.
Bode,
Carld.1984.The Outline of American Literature.New
York:Reinhart Wikonsin,Ltd.
Bigsby,C.W.E.1968. Confrontation and Commitment: A Study of Contemporary
American Drama.University of Missouri Press.
Brockett,
G.Oscar.1964.The Theatre: an Introduction.Reihart
& Wikonsin,Inc.
Peter
B.High.1986.An Outline of American Literature.New York :Longman,inc.
SIAMIR
MARULAFAU was born in Nias, North Sumatra-Indonesia, May 17,
1958. He is a lecturer in English language and literature
at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University
of North Sumatra-Indonesia. He received
his Master Degree in Linguistics in 2004.In 1985,
he became a teaching staff of English language and literature at the Faculty of
Cultural Sciences, University of North Sumatra, Medan-Indonesia. He is a poet
,short story writer. He has been writing many poems in English and Indonesian
language. He
is A lecturer in English language and literature at the University of North
Sumatra. He is a poet, a short story writer. He has been writing many poems
English and Indonesian language.
SIAMIR MARULAFAU
0 Comments
