Paper - 110A History of English Literature - 1900 to 2000
Topic : The Concept of Absurdism: Philosophical Perspectives and Literary Representation
Personal Information
Name : Shruti Sonani
Batch : M.A ,Sem - 2 (2024-2026)
Enrollment number: 5108240033
E - mail address : shrutisonani2@gmail.com
Table of Contents
Introduction
Definition of the Absurd
The contradiction between human desire for meaning and the universe’s indifference
Camus’s explanation in The Myth of Sisyphus
Camus’s Representation of the Absurd
Distinction between intellectual understanding and experiential realization
The Stranger as an embodiment of the absurd
Jean-Paul Sartre’s Perspective on Absurdism
Sartre’s analysis in Explication de L'Étranger
Absurdity as both a condition and a lucid consciousness
The Role of Humor in Absurdity
Humor as an alternative response
Incongruity and existential seriousness
Irony as a coping mechanism
Absurdity and the Problem of the Meaning of Life
The fragility of meaning
Skepticism and absurdity
Addressing the Absurd: Possible Solutions
Irony and acceptance
The theory of final value
Subjective vs. objective meaning
Camus’s Conception of Absurdity and Art
Rejection of imposed meaning
Absurd art as a reflection of reality
The aesthetics of rebellion
The Conflict Between Absurdism and Existentialism
Camus’s rejection of imposed meaning
Nietzsche’s existentialist response
The role of art in overcoming nihilism
Conclusion
Abstract
The concept of the absurd is central to Albert Camus’s philosophy and literary works. It emerges from the contradiction between humanity’s desire for meaning and the indifferent, meaningless nature of the universe. Camus, in The Myth of Sisyphus, describes this realization as a form of existential exile, while The Stranger embodies the absurd through its protagonist, Meursault. Jean-Paul Sartre offers an analysis that aligns absurdity with human existence, highlighting the gap between expectations and reality. The paper also explores the role of humor in responding to absurdity, the problem of life’s meaning, and possible solutions such as irony, subjective and objective meaning, and the concept of final value. Additionally, Camus’s notion of absurd art is examined, emphasizing its rejection of imposed meaning and its role in confronting absurdity. The paper concludes by contrasting absurdism with existentialism, particularly Nietzsche’s views, to show how both philosophies address life’s inherent meaninglessness.
Keywords: Absurdism, Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, Jean-Paul Sartre, humor, meaning of life, absurd art, existentialism, Nietzsche.
Introduction
Absurdism, a key philosophical concept explored by Albert Camus, arises from the fundamental conflict between humanity’s search for meaning and the universe’s inherent meaninglessness. This philosophical dilemma, articulated in The Myth of Sisyphus, leads to what Camus calls existential exile. Camus’s The Stranger portrays the absurd through Meursault, who embodies detachment and indifference to societal norms. This paper examines Camus’s notion of absurdity, Sartre’s perspective on it, and the role of humor as an alternative reaction. It also explores the challenge of finding meaning in an absurd world and various philosophical responses, including irony, subjective meaning, and final value.
Furthermore, the relationship between absurdity and art is analyzed, particularly how absurd literature reflects the repetitive and futile aspects of existence. Finally, the conflict between Camus’s absurdism and Nietzsche’s existentialism is discussed, emphasizing their differing responses to life’s meaninglessness.
Definition of the Absurd
The concept of the absurd is central to Albert Camus’s philosophy and literary works.
It arises from the contradiction between the human desire for clarity, purpose, and meaning in life and the indifferent, meaningless nature of the universe.
Absurdism is not an inherent quality of either human existence or the universe alone. Instead, it emerges from the conflict between the two.
Camus famously states in The Myth of Sisyphus:
"In a universe suddenly deprived of illusions and enlightenment, man feels himself a stranger. This exile is without remedy since he is deprived of memories of a lost country or of hope for a promised land."This realization leads to a sense of existential exile, where man perceives himself as a stranger in the world, unable to reconcile his search for meaning with the universe’s indifference. (Brombert)
Camus’s Representation of the Absurd
Camus distinguishes between the intellectual understanding (notion) of the absurd and the experiential realization (feeling) of it.
While The Myth of Sisyphus lays out the philosophical framework, The Stranger seeks to embody the absurd through its protagonist, Meursault.
Meursault’s passive existence, lack of emotional engagement, and indifference to societal norms serve as a practical illustration of the absurd.
Camus’s goal in The Stranger is not to argue a thesis but to depict the absurd through Meursault’s life and interactions. (Brombert)
Jean-Paul Sartre’s Perspective on Absurdism
Sartre provides an analysis of The Stranger in his essay Explication de L'Étranger.
He asserts that absurdity is both a "condition" (a fundamental aspect of human existence) and a "lucid consciousness" (awareness of this condition).
According to Sartre, absurdity results from a divorce between human expectations and the indifference of the world.
He argues:
"To be sure, neither man nor the universe, if taken separately, is absurd; but since it is the essential nature of man to exist-in-the-world, the absurd becomes one and the same with the human condition."Sartre explains that The Stranger succeeds in suggesting the absurd rather than proving it.
The novel presents the absurd through Meursault’s perception of life’s meaningless nature, where everyday experiences, major life events, and even murder are all met with the same level of indifference. (Brombert)
The Role of Humor in Absurdity
Bob Plant explores humor as an alternative reaction to the absurd.
He builds on Kant’s theory of laughter, which states that humor arises when an expectation is suddenly reduced to nothing.
Key insights on humor and the absurd:
Laughter deflates existential seriousness: If life’s concerns are meaningless in the grand scheme, they can be seen as comical rather than tragic.
Irony as a coping mechanism: Nagel suggests approaching absurdity with irony instead of despair or rebellion.
Humor provides relief: Recognizing the absurdity of human efforts can create a sense of amusement rather than existential dread.
4.1 Absurdity and Incongruity
Humor often arises from incongruity—the gap between expectations and reality.
This aligns with the absurd condition, where human desires for meaning clash with an indifferent universe.
Bergson’s Le Rire (1900) also supports this idea, stating that laughter results from recognizing mechanical, repetitive behaviors in human life. (Plant)
Absurdity and the Problem of the Meaning of Life
If human aspirations are constantly open to doubt, then meaning itself seems fragile.
Pritchard examines whether life’s meaning depends on external validation (e.g., serving society or fulfilling a divine purpose).
If all values and goals can be questioned from a disengaged standpoint, it suggests that no purpose can fully justify human existence.
However, Pritchard challenges whether this necessarily means life is absurd.(Pritchard)
The Connection Between Absurdity and Skepticism
Pritchard draws a parallel between absurdity and radical skepticism:
Skepticism: We cannot fully justify our knowledge.
Absurdity: We cannot fully justify our life’s meaning.
However, just as skepticism does not disprove knowledge, absurdism does not necessarily disprove meaning.
Life may be meaningful even if we cannot fully justify it.(Pritchard)
Addressing the Absurd: Possible Solutions
1. Irony and Acceptance
Nagel’s suggestion: We should approach life with irony, acknowledging absurdity but not letting it trouble us.
This means living as if life is meaningful while being aware that meaning is always open to question.
2. The Theory of Final Value
Pritchard’s counterargument: If fundamental goals have final value, life can be meaningful.
If something is valuable for its own sake, it does not require further justification.
The existence of intrinsic value can provide meaning despite the absurd.
3. Subjective vs. Objective Meaning
Subjective Meaning: Meaning comes from personal fulfillment and happiness.
Objective Meaning: Meaning comes from contributions to history, society, or a divine plan.
Pritchard’s position: Whether meaning is internal or external, if final value exists, life is not meaningless.(Pritchard)
Camus’s Conception of Absurdity and Art
1. The Absurd and the Rejection of Meaning
Camus argues that the absurd arises when humans seek absolute meaning in a universe that offers none.
In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus asserts that:
Life has no objective meaning.
Traditional sources of meaning (religion, morality, progress) are illusions.
Suicide is a fundamental philosophical question—whether life is worth living despite its absurdity.
The proper response to the absurd, according to Camus, is revolt—living without false hope and embracing the lack of meaning.
2. Absurd Art as a Reflection of Reality
In The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus introduces the idea of absurd creation, arguing that art should not seek to impose meaning but should reflect the absurd condition.
Key characteristics of absurd art:
Monotonous repetition: Absurd art mirrors the repetitive, futile nature of life (e.g., Sisyphus endlessly rolling a boulder uphill).
Description over explanation: Art does not provide solutions but rather exposes the raw reality of existence.
No escape: Unlike traditional art, absurd art does not distract or offer comfort—it forces confrontation with absurdity.
Example: Camus’s novel The Stranger presents Meursault as an embodiment of absurdity, indifferent to moral expectations and embracing the meaningless of life.
3. The Aesthetics of Rebellion
In The Rebel, Camus expands his views, arguing that art serves as both an exaltation and a rejection of the world.
Key aspects of absurd rebellion in art:
Art rejects reality by showing its contradictions.
Yet, it cannot exist without reality—it is both a rejection and an acknowledgment of life’s conditions.
The artist does not escape the world but preserves its absurdity through creative expression. (Sefler)
The Conflict Between Absurdism and Existentialism
Camus’s absurdism and Nietzsche’s existentialism are often compared, but they represent opposing responses to life’s meaninglessness.
Absurdism (Camus):
Accepts meaninglessness without seeking to impose illusions.
Rejects any form of hope or metaphysical justification.
Revolt is choosing to live without false beliefs.
Existentialism (Nietzsche):
Encourages creating meaning through art, willpower, and personal values.
Emphasizes overcoming nihilism through aesthetic experience.
Art functions as a shield against despair, helping humanity endure. (Sefler)
References :
Brombert, Victor. “Camus and the Novel of the ‘Absurd.’” Yale French Studies, no. 1, 1948, pp. 119–23. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2928869. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Plant, Bob. “Absurdity, Incongruity and Laughter.” Philosophy, vol. 84, no. 327, 2009, pp. 111–34. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20533173. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Pritchard, Duncan. “Absurdity, Angst, and the Meaning of Life.” The Monist, vol. 93, no. 1, 2010, pp. 3–16. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/41419194. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Sefler, George F. “The Existential vs. the Absurd: The Aesthetics of Nietzsche and Camus.” The Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, vol. 32, no. 3, 1974, pp. 415–21. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/428426. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
