Predicament And Choices: An Interpretation Of Darkness Visible From The Perspective Of Sartrean Existentialism

William Golding concerns about the human condition,which is written in his every work including Darkness Visible.Having witnessed that World War II has brought misery to human being,Golding explores the causes of suffering and provides his idea of how to survive the world in his works.This is similar to the philosophy of existentialism which flourished in the 20^thcentury.Thus,this thesis examines the predicament of existence that Matty,Sophy,and Mr.Pedigree encounter and the choices that they make to address it in terms of Sartre’s existentialism,concluding that humans can solve predicament and achieve authentic existence only through taking actions,bearing responsibility for ourselves and others,as well as keeping faith in the Good.Except Introduction and Conclusion,the thesis falls into three major chapters.The Introduction offers a brief introduction to William Golding and Darkness Visible,a review of previous researches of Darkness Visible abroad and at home,together with an overview of Existentialism and the three themes of Sartrean existentialism which are discussed in the thesis:being-in-itself,being-for-others,and freedom.The first chapter analyzes three protagonists’predicament of existence from Sartre’s being-in-itself perspective.Matty,Sophy,and Mr.Pedigree live in an irrational,chaotic,and isolated world.Their life is destroyed by pervading violence;the absence of universal values and chaotic interpretative system of values corrupt them and confuse them in understanding themselves and the world;language,the means of expression and communication,does not facilitate but inhibits them from constructing human experience and communicating with others.The second chapter is a detailed analysis of the protagonists’predicament in terms of Sartre’s being-for-others.Matty,Sophy,and Mr.Pedigree all suffer from hostile relations with others.Matty is swallowed by a sense of inferiority and guilt derived from the look or the gaze of his classmates,teacher,and colleagues,which hinders him from pursuing freedom and love;Sophy,living in a family where everyone is an individual as the center,is also inflicted by desolateness;Mr.Pedigree,enduring the hate from society,is alone and lonely.The third chapter probes into the different choices that three characters make in the face of their predicament based on Sartre’s freedom.Matty attempts to quest for self,but ending in failure due to the constraints of inferiority and guilt.He frees himself from those by accepting his past.Then,he seeks an absolute faith in the Good.Under the guidance of this philosophy,Matty shoulders the responsibility for the world and saves a child at the cost of his life.On the contrary,after Sophy is unable to seek self-knowledge,she imposes her will on others and even destroys other’s autonomy,and therefore plunges into utter despair.Mr.Pedigree chooses bad faith,blaming what he is to others and the circumstance and denying his capacity to flee from it.The Conclusion suggests that an existential interpretation of Darkness Visible leads to the conclusion that predicament of existence is universal,and man can only surmount it and achieve authentic existence through taking actions,shouldering responsibility,and embracing the Good.It is hoped that this solution will be significant for men in the plight in modern society.