THE CONCEPT OF ABSURDITY SEEN IN JOHN STEINBECK’S OF MICE AND MEN
THE CONCEPT OF ABSURDITY SEEN IN JOHN STEINBECK’S OF MICE AND MEN AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
MONICA DIAN SANDITAMA Student Number: 034214015 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008
THE CONCEPT OF ABSURDITY SEEN IN JOHN STEINBECK’S OF MICE AND MEN AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra in English Letters
By
MONICA DIAN SANDITAMA Student Number: 034214015 ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2008
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Through this piece of work only I can try to dedicate my love to my beloved family: Papi & Mami, Om To, Mas Jondhet & Mba Udit, Mba Mega & Mas Ishar, Mba Galih & Mas Dhadhang, and Damar for the never ending love and support.
My chief debt goes to Sarwoto. P, S.S., M.A., my advisor, who has willingly spent his precious time to read and correct this thesis; and who has patiently encouraged and supported me in improving this thesis with his advice; from ‘nothing’ into a piece of this little work. My deepest gratitude also goes to Maria Ananta Tri Suryandari, S.S., M. Ed., my co-advisor, who has devoted her valuable time to read and give corrections and also suggestions to make this thesis better. I would like also say thank you to Dr. Hary Susanto, S.J., for the discussion and encouragement to finish the thesis.
I thank all my friends from the English Letters Study Program, especially those from class A. I also thank to Mba Poet, Ella, and Icad for the great friendship. Thank you to Jo for reminding me to learn more from a lot of the small things. Thank you to my beloved friends “eks-stembayo”: Mba Pt, Mb Fiet, Mba Rieh, Mba Aniek, Mba U’an, Mba Andar, Mba Desy, and Herlin. I would like also say thank to Mba Iyus, Mas Lilik and Mas Wahyu for all the advices and references.
Monica Dian Sanditama.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE ................................................................................................. i
APPROVAL PAGE ....................................................................................... ii ACCEPTANCE PAGE.................................................................................. iiiACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................... v
ABSTRACT .................................................................................................... vii
ABSTRAK ...................................................................................................... viii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION................................................................. 1
A. Background of the Study.......................................................................1 B. Problem Formulation.............................................................................
4 C. Objectives of the Study .........................................................................
4 D. Definition of Term ................................................................................
5 CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ................................................ 6 A. Review of Related Studies ....................................................................
6 B.
8 Review of Related Theories.................................................................
1. Theory on Character and Characterization ......................................
8 2. Theory on Conflict ...........................................................................
10 3. Theory on Absurdity ........................................................................
12 C. Theoretical Framework .........................................................................
23 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ............................................................ 25 A. Object of the Study ..............................................................................
25 B. Approach of the Study ..........................................................................
26 C. Method of the Study .............................................................................. 28 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ........................................................................
30 A. The Elaboration of the Characters Presented in the Novel ...................
30 1. The Characterization of Major Characters ......................................
31 a. George ........................................................................................
34 b. Lennie .........................................................................................
33 2. The Characterization of Minor Characters.......................................
37 a. Candy ..........................................................................................
38 b. Crooks .........................................................................................
39 c. Curley’s wife ...............................................................................
40 d. Curley..........................................................................................
42 B. The Elaboration of the Conflicts .......................................................... 44 1. Major Characters’ Conflicts............................................................
45 a. George .........................................................................................
45 b. Lennie..........................................................................................
50 2. Minor Characters’ Conflicts.............................................................
52
b. Crooks ..........................................................................................
54 c. Curley’s Wife ...............................................................................
57 d. Curley...........................................................................................
60 C. Camus’ Concept of Absurdity as Seen in Characterization and Conflict 63 1. Major Characters..............................................................................
64 a. George ............................................................................................
64 b. Lennie.............................................................................................
68 2. Minor Characters...............................................................................
72 a. Candy .............................................................................................
72 b. Crooks ............................................................................................
75 c. Curley’s Wife .................................................................................
78 d. Curley.............................................................................................
81 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ..................................................................
85 BIBLIOGRAPHY .......................................................................................... 88
APPENDIX ..................................................................................................... 90
SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 90
ABSTRACT
MONICA DIAN SANDITAMA. The Concept of Absurdity Seen in John
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters,
Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2008.Of Mice and Men is a novel that tells about friendship between George and Lennie. Both of them dream about their beautiful future as the other workers who lived during the Great Depression of the 1930s in America. This novel depicts a tragedy within human’s life. A portrayal on the futility of human’s effort is revealed through the two major characters in this novel. The major characters’ hopelessness which is strengthened by the minor characters’ conflicts asserts Camus’ philosophical idea that is absurdity, revealed in this work.
The characterization of both of the major and minor characters in the novel is the first point discussed in this study. Second, the description of the conflicts experienced by each character becomes the main supporter to convey the third problem that is about the concept of absurdity in the novel. Through the portrayal of man’s ordinary life during that era, the novel reveals a profound idea upon that condition to readers. Therefore, moral- philosophical approach, which is especially related to the idea of absurdity proposed by Camus, is applied in this study. The method used is library research, includes collecting data, reading data, analyzing data, and drawing conclusion. Camus’ concept of absurdity conveys the absence of meaning in human life. This concept is explored profoundly through the futility of man’s effort and the existence of the undeniable irrational within man’s life. Those situations are precisely experienced by the characters. The conflict between desire and reality places them face to face with the irrational and longing for the harmony within their life. Each character experiences different conflict. However, they refer to the concept of absurdity revealed in the novel. George, Lennie, and Candy dream to have their own ranch. Meanwhile, failure has to be faced. The way George keeps staying with Lennie is absurd. Lennie’s inability to understand his own action signifies his question upon his being mentally crippled. Candy’s weariness shows the monotonous that brings him to his longing for tomorrow as Camus raised the matter of time. Crooks’ conflict as the only black worker in ranch represents the facticities within man’s life. Yet, the idea of racism in the novel becomes absurd by the togetherness among Crooks, Lennie, dan Candy. The way Curley hates big guy indicates his trial to elude his reality. Moreover, the absurdity of love that does not liberate according to Camus is shown through Curley’s being over protective. On the other hand, Curley’s wife’s feeling lonely emphasizes the absurdity of Curley’s love. Curley’s wife longing for happiness takes her to live within her past dream. Her death signifies the absurd within both of her and her husband’s life. Thus, each character finds himself or herself in a situation that does not fit with their expectation. Their demand for the clarification upon those conditions leads each character into anxiety and futility by the absurd world.
ABSTRAK
MONICA DIAN SANDITAMA. The Concept of Absurdity Seen in John
Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. Yogyakarta. Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas
Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2008.Of Mice and Men adalah sebuah novel tentang persahabatan George dan Lennie. Keduanya bermimpi tentang masa depan yang indah layaknya manusia- manusia kelas pekerja yang hidup pada masa Great Depression 1930 di Amerika.
Novel tersebut menggambarkan tragedi dalam kehidupan manusia. Gambaran kesia-siaan usaha manusia terungkap melalui kedua tokoh utama. Keputusasaan tokoh utama yang diperkuat oleh konflik tokoh pembantu mempertegas ide filosofis Camus, yakni absurditas, yang terungkap dalam karya ini. Penokohan dari dua tokoh utama dan tokoh-tokoh pembantu dalam novel ini merupakan hal pertama yang dibahas dalam studi ini. Kedua, gambaran konflik yang dialami oleh masing-masing karakter menjadi pendukung utama untuk memaparkan permasalahan ketiga tentang konsep absurditas dalam novel ini. Melalui gambaran tentang kehidupan manusia pada umumnya di masa itu, novel ini mengungkapkan gagasan mendalam atas kondisi tersebut kepada pembaca. Oleh karena itu, pendekatan moral-filosofis, terutama berkaitan dengan ide absurditas yang diungkapkan oleh Camus diterapkan dalam studi ini. Metode yang digunakan adalah studi pustaka, meliputi tahap pengumpulan data, membaca data, menganalisis data, dan menyusun kesimpulan. Konsep absurditas mengungkapkan ketiadaan makna dalam kehidupan manusia yang digali secara mendalam melalui ide tentang kesia-siaan dan keberadaan hal-hal irasional yang tidak terelakkan. Situasi yang dipaparkan Camus persis dialami oleh tokoh-tokoh dalam novel ini. Konflik antara hasrat dan kenyataan menempatkan mereka berhadapan dengan kegelisahan dan kerinduan akan keselarasan dalam hidup mereka. Perbedaan konflik tetap merujuk pada konsep absurditas sebagai ide dalam novel ini. George, Lennie, dan Candy memimpikan tanah peternakan sendiri. Sementara, kegagalanlah yang akhirnya harus dihadapi. Tindakan George bertahan bersama Lennie adalah absurd. Sementara ketidakmampuan Lennie untuk memahami tindakannya sendiri melambangkan cara Lennie mempertanyakan kondisinya yang cacat mental. Kejemuan Candy akan hidupnya menunjukkan aspek monoton yang membawanya merindukan hari esok sebagaimana Camus menguraikan ide tentang waktu. Realitas Crooks sebagai orang kulit hitam tidak terelakkan. Namun, ide rasisme dalam novel absurd oleh kebersamaan Crooks, Lennie, dan Candy. Kebencian Curley terhadap orang-orang bertubuh besar menunjukkan tindakannya mengelak dari realita. Selain itu, cinta yang absurd karena tidak membebaskan ditunjukkan oleh sikap overprotektif Curley dan perasaan kesepian yang dialami istri Curley. Kerinduan istri Curley akan kebahagiaan membawanya hidup dalam mimpi masa lalu. Kematiannya menggambarkan absurditas dalam hidupnya dan suaminya. Demikian setiap karakter menemukan situasi yang tidak sesuai dengan harapan mereka. Tuntutan mereka akan penjelasan atas kondisi tersebut membawa
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study Literary works in particular are not only considered as a part of culture. Moreover it is used as the medium through which the author, consciously or
unconsciously, reveal a certain phenomenon in society. Somehow many issues, regardless whether it is the ordinary one or the sophisticated one, are often reflected, represented, and revealed in literary works. This can be seen from the various themes found in literary works that might be related to a matter of sociology, psychology, philosophy, and so on.
A literary work plays its role as a tool through which the author communicates his ideas toward the reader. Since the literary work is regarded as the medium, then it is closely related to the reader as the user, in which they do the interpretation upon the literary works as they consume it. The reader makes the interpretation through many aspects provided in the literary works, though sometimes a certain aspect is considered as the one which is more important rather than the others. Therefore it then becomes the focus of the source of the interpretation. Thus, the interpretation made by the reader might be different from the first meaning intended by the author. It is similar to what is meant by the writer in analyzing Steinbeck’s novel, entitled Of Mice and Men in which Steinbeck clearly depicts the life of imigrant labourer on a California ranch. This story is basically inspired by the author’s experience as a worker on company- owned ranches. On the analysis toward this famous work, the writer does not only find the potrayal of the workers in that era, more than that, the writer can also find the profound meaning revealed through it.
Of Mice and Men , a well known novel written by John Steinbeck and
published in 1937, is found to have a philosophical idea. The way human being live with their problems and how they deal with their problems are some points presented in Steinbeck’s novel. In particular, the novel tells about the bitter reality of the American dream. All of the characters are told as human beings with their own hopes to have their ideal dreams. Those are the points which are drawn from particular aspects of the novel, that is the characters and their problems, through which the writer tries to define the philosophical idea revealed in it.
Discussing about the human beings’ condition and their problems, it is related to what is called existentialism, a branch of philosophy which is very interesting since it offers the discussion about the way people seek the meaning of their life among both of good and bad reality that they have in their life. This is the first point on which the writer is interested in analyzing Steinbeck’s Of Mice
and Men . The novel reflects the way each of human being possesses his problem
and figures out the meaning of his life, without exception, even from those who are considered as the one with the ideal image with his wisdom in viewing life in this world.
People may conceive his life in this world as a journey, a mystery, and so forth. People live within their daily activities. They are often trapped in their business which is called as routine in which it creates the possibility for them to neglect the spiritual side of human being because of the physical matter surround him that occupies his life. ” Materialistic rules” (Marcel in Gould and Truit, 1973:151), for contemporary people becomes a very familiar thing for their life. However, it is undeniable that human being also often questions the meaning of his life, the meaning of his existence in the world, whether directly or indirectly.
Somehow the futility of the human effort in seeking the meaning of their life is depicted in Steinbeck’s novel. A tragedy seems to be a part of the American workers’ life. This is elaborated in each character presented in this work. The struggle of each character in dealing with the problems in their life that looks like an ordinary case of the imigrant workers in America rises the deep issue about the way people try to stand in the world, to “exist”, in this unpredictable world that might be fascinating and troublesome at the same time.
Although Of Mice and Men is not an absurd novel, through the portrayal of the reality of human life that seems so tragic and futile presented in it, it opens the discussion on the matter of absurdity as the subject introduced by Albert Camus, one of the famous proponent of Existentialism. This assumption is considered to be reliable enough as Abrams stated that “literature of the absurd is applied to a number of works which reveal the sense that human condition is essentially and ineradicably absurd” (Abrams, 1981: 1). Thus, the thesis concerns more on the idea of absurdity revealed through the content of the novel. It does not start from the notion of the particular form for the literature of the absurd i.e. absurd by “rejecting the realistic settings, logical reasoning and a consistenly evolving plot” (Abrams, 1982: 1). In Existentialist Philosophy, Camus stated,”Before encountering the absurd, the everyday man lives with aims, a concern for the future or for justification” (Camus in Gould and Truit, 1973: 86).
Furthermore, this thesis will attempt to discover John Steinbeck’s concept of existentialism revealed through the novel, especially the concept of absurdity mentioned above.
B. Problem Formulation The followings are the problems that will be discussed on the research toward John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men :
1. How does the novel present the major and minor characters?
2. How is the conflict presented in the novel?
3. How do the conflict and characterization represent the concept of absurdity revealed in the novel?
C. Objectives of the Study
Finding how the characters are presented in the novel is the first objective of the study. As the characterization and conflict are binding together then conflicts occur in the novel need to be figured out. Therefore, the second objective is elaborating the conflicts depicted in the novel. Furthermore, the way the author presents the conflict and characterization are prominent to understand the concept of absurdity as the theme revealed in the novel. Thus, the last objective is gained by revealing the concept of absurdity through the story.
D. Definition of Term
Absurdity means the absence of meaning in human life and begins with the idea that life is not worth living, “that this world is peopled with such irrationals”(Camus, 1955: 20). The monotonous life is one of what is called as irrationals in which people see this as uselesss since death will end everything.
Even it is continued by the notion of suicide as the rest of the recognition about “the absence of any profound reason for living”(Camus in Gould and Truit, 1973: 86).
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW A. Review of Related Studies The impression of a literary work that is created directly or indirectly by the
author is always possible to lead into what is called as criticism. The criticism may take many forms such as disagreement, serious examination, judgment, or comment on argument of the literary work. Once published in 1937, Of Mice and Men successfully brought John Steinbeck to be recognized nationally as a writer.
Beginning with his first novel, Cup Of Gold, John Ernst Steinbeck explored his great talent in writing until he produced his other novels: To God Unknown (1929), The
Pasture of Heaven (1932), Tortilla Flat (1935), In Dubious Battle (1936)), The
Grapes of Wrath (1939), and many others of Steinbeck’s works that mostly known by
their themes which concerns more on social issue and humanity.
Toward Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck himself regarded this novel as the potential one to be performed in a play. This fact then led him to perform the novel in a stage version with George Kaufman, who directed the play on Broadway in New York City on November 23, 1937. By the publication of the novel both by printing media and by its visualization through play, many critical responses were directed to this Steinbeck’s tragic-story. Most of the critics commented on this novel as the representation of the American-workers’ life and their struggle in dealing with their
6 relationship with others, which was completed by the description on a deep meaning of friendship. Meanwhile, some others criticized on the rough earthiness of the characters and their lives provided in the novel.
Of Mice and Men is said as the portrayal of two men in facing the world,
which is fully described in petty tyranny, misunderstanding, jealousy, and callousness. Those are quoted from the statement of Penguin Highbridge publisher in its review toward the novel (http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/steinbeck/mice.html). However, most of critics see a matter of friendship and a shared dream as the theme revealed in Of Mice and Men. A tragic friendship as the theme revealed through the characterization of Lennie and George is one criticism stated by Jill Karson in ) .
Another critic said that Steinbeck has shown the way he affirms “the natural bond between life and productive property, the need that man has of a bit earth to give him sustenance and dignity” (Gardiner, 1952: 223). Gardiner said that this fact is strongly supported by the elaboration of the characters’ obsession about their own land as it is described in Of Mice and Men.
Claudia Durst Johnson, in “Understanding of Mice and Men, The red Pony,
and The Pearl ”, Greenwood press, stated that Steinbeck’s works are the window of
the history of times and places portrayed in each of them (http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR9966.aspx). In addition, Charlotte Hadella said that Of Mice and Men clearly portrayed the American dream of individual liberty, and the failure of the characters to see the harmony in their relationship
(http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/4803813/used/of%20Mice%20&%20M en:%20A%20kinship%20of%20powerlesness-96k-).
However, the study on Of Mice and Men may lead the readers into various interpretations. The brief and solid story about the ordinary men, the powerful technique used by Steinbeck in performing his idea through Of Mice and Men has challenged the writer to get a deeper understanding on the philosophical value contained in the novel. The concept of absurdity proposed by one of the most influential existentialist, Albert Camus, is the point that has become the concern of the writer in interpreting this challenging work.
B. Review of Related Theories 1. Theory on Character and Characterization
Character is one of the main elements of a novel. The characters are created in such a way that leads the readers to possess their own imagination. Sometimes, the characters described in novel become the first reference for the readers to stand in the story. It means that the readers are, while consuming the work since at the beginning, unconsciously drawn into the situation told in the story by imagining themselves as if they were the agents of the story.
Character can be simply considered as a person who has a role in a story. Abrams explains that the person presented in a story is called the character. He adds that the character is interpreted by the reader as having certain characteristic in the way they play their roles that are expressed by what they say or their dialogue. Another aspect that may not be separated from the former is what they do or their action for it also signifies the qualities of the character (Abrams, 1981: 20).
Two sources upon which an author can and must draw for his work are his own creative imagination and actual life (Laar, 1957:165). The author has his own experience in his actual life about a certain character and he also has his own imagination that helps him in recreating the character of the novel. Therefore, the profile exists in the novel is never the exact character replicas of the actual human beings.
Making the characters real is one thing done by the author to build an interesting character because an author has no business to create uninteresting characters (Laar, 1957:166). To make the characters interpreted as the actual human beings is a strategy to make the characters interesting. However, to make the characters differ and greatly differ from them also posses the same proportion as the former. One example of how the author makes the characters real is by making them ‘act in character’. It means that the characters are never allowed to act in which they are not suited. A wise man never acted foolishly, or in other words, a certain character is never described in such a contrast way unless there is a particular reason why the character acts thus.
In discussing about the definition of character, Robert Henkle defines about major and minor characters consist in novel. First thing that distinguishes the two is the frequency of their appearance in the story. Major characters are the characters who are observed most often and whose appearance are frequent. Thus, readers normally give these characters their fullest attention since the focal experiences of the novel is possibly delivered by such characters. Another function of major characters is its performance as the key for the structural form of the story. Meaning to say that the profound idea proposed in the novel would be successfully presented by the way the major characters explore their ability in expressing and dramatizing the human issues in the novel through its most convincing presentation (1977: 92).
Meanwhile, minor characters perform less function in the novel. Henkle mentions about three various ways which are necessary in discussing the secondary characters. First, minor characters are like an element of society. They make up the human context in which the author is trying to establish in his story. Second, they play as average or normal points of reference. Third, they play as foils to major characters or they can be symbols of aspects of the governing state of being (1977: 94-100).
2. Theory on Conflict
This theory is needed due to the analysis on the conflict of both major and minor characters. Conflict is the prominent part of a novel. Conflict creates the possibility of the real impact toward the readers; it is the part that lead the readers to get involve more on the story as if they possess the same situation as what is told in the novel. The conflict described in the story might be the portrait of the real situation of the human being, which is recreated by the author. Moreover, it might also the result of the pure imagination of the author.
“The conflict might be a contest between opposing two forces such as man against man, man against nature, and also man against fate (Pooley, 1964: 9). A conflict may take its form in an internal one that is the opposing parts of a man’s personality. The first and the second example are included as the external conflict, between man and his surrounding. The later might be quite special since it could be included as the external conflict, and also the internal one.
According to Stanton, it is said that conflict is the basic elements created in order to establish a set of events in forming the story, especially to create the major structure of the story. A story may contain more than one conflict of forces, but usually only the central conflict fully accounts for the events of the plot (1965:16).
Stanton says the specific conflicts which are mentioned by Pooley above, “are in turn subordinate to the central conflict, i.e. the conflict between the fundamental and contrasting qualities or forces, such as honesty and hypocrisy, etc”. Stanton adds that central conflict is applied properly for “a pair of forces” in which each of them is “attempting to conquer the other or resisting being conquered by it” (1965: 16). Furthermore, conflict is also stated as a clash of actions, ideas, or wills (Perrine in Koesnosubroto, 1988: 43). Supported by those definitions, the writer tries to reveal how the novel presents its central conflict that later on clarifies the issue.
A conflict might be considered as the tool for the author to reveal his idea and his point of view. Somehow it is also possible that the conflict presented in the novel is built based on another’s idea, point of view, and experience. The way the conflict begins, reaches its climax, and then resolves in such a unified pattern is a strong point to attract the readers (Pooley, 1964: 9). However, the sequences of the action or plot that arranges the conflict might also built in particular way using fragmentation without considering the common pattern using the idea of climax, resolution, etc
Laar and Schooenderwoerd state a definition of plot (Dutch:
verhaalgegeven ) in An Approach to English Literature that refers to the idea of what
happens; the events, actions and things that happen, are done or suffered (1957: 163).In details, plot is defined as an organized story, and through this definition, a further explanation to distinguish the difference between stories and plot is needed then.
The term story is understood more by its relation to time sequence arranged in the novel; that one thing happens after another thing (Laar, 1957:164). Plot is different from story in which it is more about the order of causality. A story is said as the answer that satisfies the readers’ curiosity. Plot plays a broader role for it requires readers’ intelligence and memory in order that he or she may see the connection between it and what happen later and thus the comprehension on cause-effect that relate both (Laar, 1957:164).
3. Theory on Absurdity Due to its interrelatedness with existentialism, the details about the concept of absurdity may begin with the basic idea shared among the existentialists that is questioning the existence of human. Most of us is said to “lose our sense of what it means to be human being”. The assumption is described through the way people
“have thrown away their freedom, become passive automatons, and overlooked the deeper”. Those conditions have supported the existential in owning its purpose “to describe what may be broadly conceived as the human condition” (Woodhouse, 1994: 26-27). In existentialism, it is stated that unlike other entities, human are the only creatures that are conscious about their existence in which it determines their superiority compared with other creatures. However, the term existentialism itself is not easily defined in a single fixed meaning because each thinker has their own theory based on their particular perspectives (Hasan, 1967: 7).
Among various perspectives on existentialism, there is an assumption that “existence precedes essence”, which is understood as the basic assumption in dealing with the discussion on the existence of human. Sartre said that “at the very first time man is nothing, then, the essence is defined by the time man makes decisions upon his life through his total freedom” (Sartre in Gould and Truit, 1973: 30). Beginning by the previous discussion on the superiority between man and other creatures, every man is understood that he firstly “exists”; as the subject, who define the later of what he is through his attitude, his way of thinking, etc that particularly leads him indirectly to decide what sort of man he chose to be after all, how he takes a position upon any situation he has in his life, and in particular how he defines his own life in this world. In other words, every man creates his own life. He himself is the only one who is wholly responsible for what he makes of himself.
According to Sartre, there is no higher value and authority that determines what a man should be except the man himself. The absence of God in Sartre’s theory leads to the man’s complete freedom to define himself since man is alone in the universe and is responsible for his own condition. Furthermore, it is said that man’s life is absurd. Human beings do exist but they have been thrown in a meaningless world without their permission. The next thing left is “the question” on the meaning of the existence of human in the world. Thus, according to Sartre, nothingness is the only answer revealed as human being demand the clarification about their life in the world (Sartre in Palmer, 1988: 366). Somehow, within the absurd, man has freedom to create his own life. Life is said as something that has no value or meaning except that which man gives to it.
In some way, some similarities are found between Sartre and Camus as Sartre stated that all man’s acts are ultimately futile within their absurd existence in the world. Besides, it is also futile since at the end the death will be the only reality faced by man. However, the authentic man knows that and he chooses to persevere (Sartre in Palmer, 1988: 374).
Albert Camus, a French philosophical novelist and essayist who was born and raised in Algeria is also the most well known person who proposed his idea about absurdity. Camus’ life experience as a fatherless, tubercular youth, a young playwright, and a journalist in Algiers, and later in the anti German resistance in Paris during World-War II, was said as the most influential thing in relation with his works in literature, in which the notion of “the absurd” is also one of the most significant ideas discussed by philosophers. Although Camus’ works were very famous with its exploration on the absurdity, he was not the first person proposed the idea about th
absurdity. In 19 century, Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher, already introduced this concept (Gould and Truitt, 1973: 67).
A quotation stated in The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy explains Camus’ notion of “the absurd” as the confrontation between ourselves- with our demand for the rationality and justice- and an “indifferent universe" (Audi, 1995:116). Furthermore, in his Myth of Sisyphus, Camus mentioned that human being is said to be in “his longing for happiness and reason”, the point in which “the absurd is born by the confrontation between human need and the unreasonable silence of the world” (Camus, 1955:21). Thus, absurdity, as a concept born in the movement of the existentialism or the philosophy of existence, is stated as a confrontation, an opposition, a conflict, or a “divorce” between two ideals.
The two ideals proposed by Camus are the condition in which human beings possess their question about the meaning of life, while on the contrary the world itself provides no explanation for them. In details, it is elaborated in the fundamental existence of suffering and monotonous life faced by human being that somehow has stimulated them in questioning what is behind those and expecting this life to be filled with happiness and such a meaning that is understandable for them. Seldom people question about their life, especially within their monotonous activities, but when then the question comes, men hardly get the answer upon the reality that they have within their life.
While having their awareness as human being who is essentially and completely different from other entities that may unable to think and will freely, people questioning the purpose of this life, on why do they appear in this world within one or two thing that we have since we were born and that seems to be unable to be changed, i.e. as Sartre said the “facticitiy” in existence (Sartre in Palmer, 1988: 371). The question that seems to be futile since the death is the only thing emerges as reality for this life. This is even definitely shown by the awareness of all human being that none of them will encounter the eternal life in this world. Those explain the notion on the existence and the irrational, and last, the absurd that in a certain degree may link both of them for questioning and demanding the clarifications upon the inexplicable situation that people have signifies his awareness of being exist as an individual. Means, people are aware of their existence in which they themselves who create the meaning of their life. On the other side, the appearance of the final reality that is the death refers to the irrational for it means there is no answer upon people’s question about their life. Thus, people feel disappointed by the absurd; by the absence of the concord between both of people’s desire and reality proposed by the world.
In a simple way, the irrational may be defined as the quality of being beyond human’s capability to understand its logical thought. On the other hand, people may naturally tend to define his surrounding rationally. Furthermore, it may also refers to the quality of being unreasonable which can be seen as much as various matters that seem to be occur or exist in such a way; transcendental. That formerly people live within their purpose and plan; the matter of death has suddenly emerged and replace the hope. Thus, according to Camus, the irrational later on refers to the profound existence of the death within people’s life in this world. Afterwards, it also leads the people to recognize the existence of suffering that seems to be useless before the death.
The world itself is not absurd, but rather the relationship between man and the world is an absurd one for it prompts certain types of question from man but makes no provisions for answer. The absurd relationship is to be found in that divorce between the mind, the desires, and the world, which disappoints (Camus in Gould and Truitt, 1973: 67). Those may refer to many people’s experiences, for instance; the existence of suffering, evil and so on that somehow insist them to find the sufficient reason behind it. Then, it may refer also to the condition of human being who pursues the eternal happiness in which the world cannot satisfy him because every man will die at the end. By the final reality, that is the presence of the death, the uselessness of suffering has surely indicated the absurd of human condition. In addition, the fact that man lives within his freedom to think and to desire can be probably considered as the indicator of the absence of the concord between this world and him; between his reality and his mind. Once he reached a particular level, he may desire the more. Thus, the divorce between both of desire and reality is continuously born.
Through their every day, people look into the way they repeat their days, their everyday business, their longing for the more till they come to feel weary of those denseness. Thus, it is not merely about such an eternal repetition occur within their life, it is also about the later thought on people’s effort to make such a solution to deal with that matter. Being aware of their condition, people make such a trial to break from their routine. They are longing for their better condition. Thus, a hope upon their schemes for tomorrow is started from the moment. Here the matter of time, comparison, and hope are explored by Camus in dealing with his idea about the absurd condition that refers to human’s life. By the existence of desire, the matter of time which will actually reach its limit and the disagreement between both that ultimately ruin the hope, a link of which the notion of the absurd can be described are proposed.
Surely, by having his own desire upon whatever condition that has already existed surround them, people may find his unlimited mind and desire. That is how the desire shows the tendency to compare which then signifies the absence of the unity between people’s mind and his reality. As Camus says that “the absurd springs from a comparison” and “in between an action and the world that transcends it” (Camus, 1955: 22). Thus, the absurd revealed through the character’s scheme and the objective situation that he has.
Nonetheless, man lives within his awareness of the matter of time. He realizes his getting old, his future, and precisely on his ultimate reality that is his death. Thus, it makes all things that have been desired before become nothing as Sartre says about the “facticity”, that somehow signifies the absurd of human being’s life. The fact that every effort done is going to be nothing for the death is the last thing left for them. It is a kind of certainty that will definitely be experienced by all human being and uncertainty, that, in fact it is something unpredictable when and how it will come to man.
Feeling worry about his future precisely illustrates the way man belongs to time as Camus says:
But simultaneously he situates himself in relation to time. He takes his place in it. He admits that he stands at a certain point on a curve that he acknowledges having to travel to its end (Camus, 1955: 10-11).
By this phase, man is unconsciously directed by time. He begins to define his ‘tomorrow’ and making such an effort that may make sure his ‘business’ be as he expects it to be. Here, people indirectly conceive their life as a matter of passing by the time. They know that somehow everything they do will have to be stopped someday. It surely implies their awareness of death within people’s life in this world.
Before encountering the absurd, the everyday man lives with aims, a concern for the future or for justification. He weighs his chances, he counts on “someday”, his retirement or the labor of his sons. He still thinks that something in his life can be directed. In truth, he acts as if he were free, even if all the facts make a point on contradicting that liberty. (Camus, 1955: 42).
Those are the real portrayal of people’s life in this world. They realize that every situation they have, both of good and hard times, will lead them into their tomorrow. It may be understood that people here are aware of their being exist as the subject, the determiner of what their own life are going to be. As Sartre said that this is the first principle of existentialism i.e. “subjectivity” (Sartre in Gould and Truitt, 1973: 30). Meanwhile, within the absurd, while people are struggling in conceiving their being exist in this world, they are at the same time finding themselves before the universe that somehow seems to be the ignorant of their condition. Thus, the awareness of the irrational is begun for so many things exist in their life beyond people’s capability to grasp its meaning. That is where the absurd takes place in between people’s desire to get the clarification from the universe and the inexplicable condition proposed before them as Camus states below: But what is absurd is the confrontation between this irrational and the wild longing for clarity whose call echoes in the man heart. The absurd depends as much on man as on the world. For the moment it is all that links them together. (Camus, 1955: 16) Much as they conceive their own frame i.e. in term of the rationale, people keeps demanding such an explanation upon their condition in the world. It is briefly defined then as the conflict between people’s desire and the reality. In between both, people find the disagreement that later on brings them into the feeling disappointed as Camus states about the syndrome of absurdity below:
In a universe suddenly divested of illusions and lights, man feels alien, a stranger. His exile is without remedy since he is deprived of the memory of the lost home or the hope of a promised land. This divorce between man and his life, the actor and his setting, is properly the feeling of absurdity. (Camus, 1955: 5)