DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEORY AND APPROACH

A theory is consists of concepts, definitions, reference and relevant to the study you are doing. It
demonstrates the understanding of all the theories significant to the study. In short, Theory covers all
the knowledge in the topic particularly establishing the context and significance of the study being
conducted by summarizing information of the topic. Whereas Approach is a practical way of dealing
with that situation or the way we might do a theory. It is usually part of the methodology.

Existentialism

Definition

Existentialism is a movement in philosophy and literature that emphasizes individual existence, freedom
and choice. It focuses on the idea of human defining their own meaning in life and trying to make
rational decisions despite existing in an irrational universe. Existentialism believes that individuals are
free and must take personal responsibility for themselves (although with this responsibility comes angst,
a profound anguish or dread), and emphasizes action, freedom and decision as fundamental in rising
above the essentially absurd condition of humanity (which is characterized by suffering and inevitable
death).

Background

Existentialism found its relevance during the World War II , when Europe found itself threatened
alternately by material and spiritual destruction. During those times humankind appeared to be
untenable which why existentialism was moved to insist on instability and the risk of all human reality,
to acknowledge that individual is thrown into the world where freedom is conditioned and hampered
by limitations. Those negative aspects such as pain, frustration, sickness and death which occured in the
19th century was refused to take seriously believing that it isn’t touch any infinite principle optimists
believed to be manifest in humans which sooner became an essential features of human reality for
existentialism.

Nature

The study of Existentitialism is always grounded on individual existence- whether my existence, your
existence, his existence or her existence. It is the investigation of the meaning of life faced in the
external factors of reality. It is concerned with finding self and the meaning of life through free will,
choice, and personal responsibility. It takes consideration the concepts of a person struggling against
individual nature, fighting for life; decisions and consequences; and personal responsibility and
discipline. Yet it doesn’t support the concepts of wealth, pleasure, or honor to make the good life;
societal values; idea of science and the “I want my way, now!” or “It is not my fault!” mentality.
Well known theorist

Existentialism in its currently recognizable form was developed by the 19th Century Danish philosopher
Soren Kierkegaard and the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. Both of them considered the role of
making free choices on fundamental values and beliefs to be essential in the attempt to change the
nature and identity of the chooser. Then Jean Paul Sartre known as the famous existentialist came of
age in the mid-20th Century, together with Albert Camus and Simone de Beauvoir promoting all of their
works popularized existential themes, such as dread, boredom, alienation, the absurd, freedom,
commitment and nothingness. Another existentialist such as Albert Camus exemplify the pointlessness
of existence by using the analogy of the Greek myth of Sisyphus who is condemned for eternity to roll a
rock up a hill, only to have it roll to the bottom again each time.

Themes in Analyzing Existentialism

To understand the philosophy of Existentialism, it is necessary to understand the themes/aspects of the

philosophy, as these themes play a very significant role in this philosophizing.

Themes/Aspects of Existentialism

1) Freedom/Responsibility: This aspect plays a very significant role in the existentialist philosophy
which involves both choices and the responsibility. It is often considered as a compulsory factor and
a burden because the human being is free to choose and is bound to face the consequences of that.
2) Bad Faith: The term Bad Faith is considered to be the most significant aspect in existentialism as this
philosophy is closely related to freedom. Existentialists such as, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de
Beauvoir used this philosophical concept. According to them it is a phenomenon in which an
individual takes a decision or makes his/her choices without using their decision making ability, but
takes help of some foreign agency such as society or religion or any emotional forces. In doing this
he disowns his power of freedom, which is termed as Bad Faith.
3) Focus on concrete existence: This philosophy stresses on the subject rather than the object, it
initiates with the man rather than with nature. It is developed to understand the fundamental and
significant question about the evolution and the existence of the human being.
4) Existence precedes Essence: Existential philosophy attempts to assert self understanding and
basically the origin and the evolution of the human being. The search of the existence of the human
being is as old as the human being himself. According to Sartre’s statement, at first, the human
being exists in this world and then he develops himself with the power of his decision making
ability, and develops his past, present and future. The individual is thrown into this world and then
he develops his essence, his character, personality, purpose and meaning in his life.
5) Humanism: humanism is optimistic in nature, in spite of the fact that there is an objective value, we
are entirely responsible for what we become, and even puts the future of humanity in the hands of
the human beings. Therefore, the Existential philosophy is considered as a person-centered
philosophy. It focuses more on the human being than on nature, on the individual’s pursuit of
identity and meaning in his/her life than the social, emotional and economic pressures. In this
regard it is considered that “Man is the future of man”.
6) Angst/Anguish: The term angst was used by the father of the theist, and Danish existentialist, Soren
Kierkegaard, and the more specifically, it is introduced into English from the Danish angst, to
 describe intense feeling, nervousness, apprehension and severe inner emotional tumult. In
common Danish language, angst, is sometimes called dread, fear, anxiety, stress or sense of
anguish, which is common to many Existentialist thinkers. Anxiety has a sense of anguish, a
generalized uneasiness, a fear or dread, which is not directed to any specific object. Anguish is
defined as the dread of the nothingness of human existence.
7) Facticity: Facticity may be defined as the quality or state of being a fact. Pointing on something
factual is an objective affair, but facticity might be called the inward or the inner side of factuality.
8) Authenticity and In-authenticity: The aspect of authentic existence is universal to the existentialist
thinkers. The existentialists consider this aspect as the degree to which one is true to one’s
personality and character despite the external difficulties. The consciousness seems to come to
terms with being in the material world and encountering with the exterior facts and pressures;
which are rather different from other than one’s self. It is often taken to mean that one has to find
oneself and then live in accordance with his/her self.
9) Despair: The term despair is commonly defined as total hopelessness divulged from within the
individual being. In existential philosophy it is more specifically related to the breakdown of one’s
identity. In other words, if the human being compromises with his individuality in some particular
situation, the person is doomed to the state of despair, despondency and in some hopeless state.
The loss of hope, expectations, confidence, and optimism often lead to depression, isolation,
dejection, anguish, sadness and desolation. For example, a driver who loses his legs in a road
accident may despair that there is nothing to rely on, and becomes hopeless about himself.
10) Reason: Jean-Paul Sartre said that there is no inherent meaning in life, therefore it is up to each
individual to find one’s own reason for existing. This aspect of existentialism is also associated with
the conception of freedom, which is considered as the paramount aspect of human existence.
Existentialism asserts that people actually make decisions based on the meaning to them rather
than rationally.
11) The Absurd: The idea of absurd is a very common theme in the philosophy of existentialism, which
emphasizes the disagreement between the human beings in seeking some inherent meaning in this
world, and their hopelessness of finding meaning. The notion of the Absurd contains the idea that
there is no meaning to be found in the world beyond what meaning we give to it. This
meaninglessness in life also encompasses the amorality or unfairness of the world. It highlights the
quest of human being for purpose. It is assumed that everything has a purpose, a reason for
existence. This even argues about the universal question, such as if the humankind is created by
God then who created God?
12) Alienation/Isolation/Boredom: Alienation in the biblical sense is alienation from the God; it is the
sin in the biblical sense. But in Existentialism alienation is alienation from one’s own being. It is a
major aspect which characterizes existentialism. It basically means to become withdrawn or
impassive or isolate emotionally from others. It also includes the feeling of separation, moral
breakdown, from the society.
13) Existence: This philosophy basically relies on this fundamental aspect. The existence of the human
being and only the human beings exist, are the elemental themes in this philosophy. The philosophy
clearly explains that in this whole world only human being exists, and the other living beings such as
the animals, vegetables, trees, plants, etc do not exist in this world, they just are.
14) Finitude/Death: Human beings are the finite beings. This statement is as factual as the existence of
the human being. With this it is believed that there is a fundamental relationship between the
community and death; death is considered as the integral part of the existence.
15) Guilt: Guilt is an emotion that occurs when a person disobeys and defies the moral and ethical
standards. The human being feels remorse and regret after he/she violates the ethical values in
his/her life. The human being wants to change that past experience in which he has failed his
conscience and did not follow the values, morals, ethics etc, and even regrets the finitude of his/her
past choices, or inability to change the past actions which have been chosen in the moment of Bad
Faith by neglecting authentic and subjective life. By betraying his self, by denying his values the
person faces existential guilt in his life.
16) Uncertainty/Leap in the Darkness: Uncertainty is another significant aspect of existentialism.
Literally it means the condition of being uncertain and doubtful about the future. Every individual
being exists and has the freedom to choose from the alternatives, he can desire or wish to achieve
something, he can even attempt to achieve that goal, but it is not known that his work will be
accomplished or not. The objective is ambiguous and indefinite in this world and it is believed that it
occurs with the wish of the superlative power only. In other words, when the human being
attempts to achieve something in his life, the uncertainty aspect exists with his wish and at the
same time he is aware of its ambiguity.

Retrieved from:http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/121500/4/04_chapter%201.pdf;
A research about the Aspects of Existentialism, the Theory of Comparative Literature and a Brief
History of Indian English Literature

PROSE
God Sees the truth Existentialism Analysis

In God Sees the Truth, But Waits by Leo Tolstoy we have the aspects of existentialism by means of
the theme of guilt and freedom. The story explores the theme of guilt when Semyonitch feels guilty
about what he has done to Aksionov. The readers are aware that the guilt has been triggered by the
fact that Aksionov has not told the authorities about Semyonitch’s escape plans. So overwhelmed is
Semyonitch that he not only begs Aksionov for forgiveness but also tells the authorities that he was
the one who killed the merchant. This may be important as Tolstoy may be highlighting how
overpowered an individual might feel when confronted with guilt. Semyonitch knows that he will
end up spending the rest of his life in prison if he tells the authorities that it was him who killed the
merchant yet nonetheless he still admits to his guilt. It is as though the guilt cripples Semyonitch. He
knows that Aksionov is a good man and does not deserve to be in prison. If anything Semyonitch
may be in conflict with himself. Unable to live with what he has done to Aksionov.

Moreover, the theme of freedom is highlighted when Aksionov dies in prison. The reality may be
that Aksionov was already a free man. He might have physically been locked up in prison however
spiritually through his faith and his belief in God Aksionov was a free man. Society might have
judged him to be a guilty man but God didn’t. Which may be the point that Tolstoy is attempting to
make. He may be suggesting that no matter how difficult life may be for an individual God will
always be there. An individual may have a conflict with society as Aksionov does. They may be
beaten by society but once they have faith in God they can overcome any obstacle that society puts
in front of them. Though Aksionov did not see freedom. He was freed by God.

POETRY
A POISON TREE BY WILLIAM BLAKE EXISTENTIALISM ANALYSIS

A Poison Tree is a poem that focuses on the emotion of anger and the consequences for our
relationships should that anger be surpressed. Using the existentialist approach, the text is
existential in a sense that the speaker in the poem let the existence of anger grow deeper. The
speaker bury the anger rather than exposing it and acknowledging it, which was metaphorically
compared to a seed that fastly germinate. And through the cultivation of that seed , which is
nourished by the energy of the angry person, wrath grows into a mighty and destructive force
destroying the relationship that was formed. The foe, therefore, felt revengeful towards speaker.
This result from the speaker’s death the next morning, the corpse found lying beneath the tree. This
part embraced the theme of death in existentialism where it proves that the speaker in the poem
did exist.

A Poison Tree
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I waterd it in fears,

Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night.

Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.

And into my garden stole,

When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
SUMMARY OF THE POISON TREE
The speaker was angry with a friend, revealed it, and the anger was dispelled. However, anger
toward an enemy was not revealed, but nurtured with fears and negative feelings about the ‘foe'.
The speaker's growing antipathy was masked by smiles and pretence. It grew into a tree bearing a
shiny apple which was desired by the enemy. This foe, therefore, crept into the speaker's garden on
a starless night and took the apple, resulting in the enemy's corpse being found the next morning
lying beneath the tree.