An Analysis Of Existential Paradox In The Power And The Glory From The Perspective Of Sartre’s Existentialism

Graham Greene（1904-1991）,is a distinguished 20 th century British novelist;he often explored the conflicting political and moral issues of today’s world,with a particular focus on human’s suffering.The Power and the Glory（1940）,generally recognized as Graham Greene’s masterpiece,is based on the author’s two-month experience in Mexico and describes “the most brutal religious persecution since Elizabeth’s reign” and is filled with faithful depictions of darkness and suffering.So this novel is the most ambitious work of Greene.In this book,opposites and contradictions are harmoniously united in one,showing the spiritual plight of the characters and the complexities and paradox of human nature against the backdrop of a society in which religion and the regime are sharply opposed to each other,which is thought-provoking and also reflects the author’s profound religious meditation and deep humanistic concern.This thesis is based on Sartre’s existentialist philosophy and his thinking on ethical issues of freedom and responsibility,and starts from “existential paradox” of the characters to analyse and interpret the text of the novel.The thesis mainly consists of three parts: introduction,the main body and conclusion.The main body is divided into four chapters.The introduction briefly introduces the development of existentialism and the main philosophical ideas of Sartre,and on this basis,gives an explanation of the concept of “existential paradox” and its relevance to Sartre’s philosophical ideas.Then it provides a comprehensive review of the research on Graham Greene’s novels in and outside of China,especially analyzing the current research situation of The Power and the Glory at home and abroad,and proposes the research direction,research meaning and innovation of this thesis.The first chapter of the main body,taking the two main characters of the novel priest and lieutenant as examples,analyses the paradoxical state of existence of the protagonists in the novel by drawing on Sartre’s ethical reflections on the issues of freedom and responsibility,and explores the spiritual crisis and inner dilemma faced by human beings in the 20 th century,that is,the problem of existential paradox.The second chapter explains the causes of the paradoxes of the characters’ existence in the work,which are summarized in the following two points.In terms of internal causes,the issue of freedom and responsibility is one of the triggers that runs through the work,whether it is the internal conflicts of the characters or the conflicts between individuals and others.In terms of external causes,the intense conflict between state and church,presented in the work,is the underlying cause of the enormous pressure on the characters to survive.Chapter three presents the ideal human attitude and response that one should hold in the face of existential paradox based on Sartre’s existential philosophy on freedom,namely that one should constantly pursue freedom and self-transcendence.Although human beings are often overwhelmed by the omnipresent existential paradoxes,it is through the recognition and confrontation of these paradoxes that human beings realize their essence as “being-for-itself.” The search for the true meaning of life in a confusing world is not only an ideal way for individuals to face the existential dilemmas,but also a powerful driving force for the continuous progress of human society.The conclusion of the thesis reiterates the manifestations,causes and responses to the problem of existential paradoxes in The Power and the Glory,as well as analyzing the limitations of this thesis and offering a vision for the future.The paradox embodies the current situation and helplessness of mankind’s own existence,but it also prompts us to better reflect on ourselves and the world modern people are facing,thus helping us to cultivate a healthy,moderate attitude of scepticism and a tolerant and open attitude towards life.The complexity of the human spiritual world that Greene’s novels reveal helps to remind us to look at our present state of being,to dissect ourselves,and to look beyond ourselves to find meaning in our lives and to live better with ourselves and the world people are living in.