Milan Kundera - a modern existentialist? Or: Why 'The Joke' is not an existential novel

A modern existentialist or Why The Joke is not an existential novel

Fiction & Literature, Anthologies
Cover of the book Milan Kundera - a modern existentialist? Or: Why 'The Joke' is not an existential novel by Rebecca Steltner, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Rebecca Steltner ISBN: 9783638605380
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: January 31, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Rebecca Steltner
ISBN: 9783638605380
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: January 31, 2007
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Essay from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Comparative Literature, grade: A, University of Kent, course: Philosophy in Literature, 7 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Milan Kundera's novel 'The Joke' abounds in existentialist vocabulary and themes. His main character's narrative is loaded with such expressions as choiceandexistence, self-deceptionorfreedom,which are sometimes even set in Italics. These are not just words, that Ludvik uses in his narrative, they are also made themes in themselves as well as reoccurring motifs - for example that of the 'destruction of façades'. These themes are important, from the very beginning as we have the basic condition of someone 'crossing the border', which is not altogether dissimilar to Roquentin's predicament in Sartre'sLa Nausée. All situations, that Kundera's characters find themselves in are existential, too, in such a way, that they require choices and a wholly new perspective on the past after the destruction of old value systems.It is therefore obvious that existentialist ideas must have influenced and inspired Kundera, and as Existentialism is in itself a philosophy that focuses greatly on perception and the possibility of self-knowledge, one could even propose to say, that its ideas are always also central to modern novel writing especially when we look at psychological novels and first-person narratives. However, (I would argue that)The Joke is by no means an existentialist novel, as its approach to ideas is by no means direct, but playful as well as critical. This is why it is impossible, to say, that for example, the novel reflects on the nature of self-deception, and its main character is in 'bad faith'. Such an approach, does not do the novel justice, and at this point it may well be worth remembering, that its author, too, resists such an attempt: 'My disgust for those who reduce a work to its ideas: my revulsion at being dragged into what they call 'discussions of ideas.' My despair at this era befogged with ideas and indifferent to works.' (Art of the Novel, p. 131). Now, let me first quickly define, what I understand by 'existentialist novel' before we can then look at a few actual passages and maybe reach the above verdict. Existentialists, like Sartre, have always used fiction to convey their ideas. According to Edith Kern, Simone de Beauvoir even thought of the novel as the most appropriate means of presenting existentialist thought: 'The novel seemed to her [Simone de Beauvoir] particularly suited to the expression of existential insights which would seem contradictory if they were to be presented categorically and systematically.'

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Essay from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Comparative Literature, grade: A, University of Kent, course: Philosophy in Literature, 7 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Milan Kundera's novel 'The Joke' abounds in existentialist vocabulary and themes. His main character's narrative is loaded with such expressions as choiceandexistence, self-deceptionorfreedom,which are sometimes even set in Italics. These are not just words, that Ludvik uses in his narrative, they are also made themes in themselves as well as reoccurring motifs - for example that of the 'destruction of façades'. These themes are important, from the very beginning as we have the basic condition of someone 'crossing the border', which is not altogether dissimilar to Roquentin's predicament in Sartre'sLa Nausée. All situations, that Kundera's characters find themselves in are existential, too, in such a way, that they require choices and a wholly new perspective on the past after the destruction of old value systems.It is therefore obvious that existentialist ideas must have influenced and inspired Kundera, and as Existentialism is in itself a philosophy that focuses greatly on perception and the possibility of self-knowledge, one could even propose to say, that its ideas are always also central to modern novel writing especially when we look at psychological novels and first-person narratives. However, (I would argue that)The Joke is by no means an existentialist novel, as its approach to ideas is by no means direct, but playful as well as critical. This is why it is impossible, to say, that for example, the novel reflects on the nature of self-deception, and its main character is in 'bad faith'. Such an approach, does not do the novel justice, and at this point it may well be worth remembering, that its author, too, resists such an attempt: 'My disgust for those who reduce a work to its ideas: my revulsion at being dragged into what they call 'discussions of ideas.' My despair at this era befogged with ideas and indifferent to works.' (Art of the Novel, p. 131). Now, let me first quickly define, what I understand by 'existentialist novel' before we can then look at a few actual passages and maybe reach the above verdict. Existentialists, like Sartre, have always used fiction to convey their ideas. According to Edith Kern, Simone de Beauvoir even thought of the novel as the most appropriate means of presenting existentialist thought: 'The novel seemed to her [Simone de Beauvoir] particularly suited to the expression of existential insights which would seem contradictory if they were to be presented categorically and systematically.'

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Einführung der Gedichtform 'Elfchen' in einer jahrgangsgemischten Klasse by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Zur Sozialisation der Geschlechter by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Soziale Gerechtigkeit an Universitäten? by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Darstellung des §8c KStG und dessen Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Balanced Scorecard - ein Feedbacksystem für Managementprozesse by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Interkulturelles Deutschland - wie kommen ausländische Jugendliche in der Pädagogik vor? by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Der Traktat 'De regia potestate et papali' des Johannes Quidort von Paris im Kontext seiner Entstehung by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Implementierung des Balanced Scorecard Konzeptes by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Synthesis of Methylated Bucky Bowls by HF elimination by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Prozessorientierte Theorien zur Arbeitsmotivation by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Beschulung von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Die Eltern gehörloser Kinder. Von der Diagnose zur gemeinsamen Sprache by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Begrifflich-theoretische Protreptik und systemische Einführung in das Denken Horkheimers und Adornos anhand der Dialektik der Aufklärung sowie der kritischen Theorie by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Ein Einblick in das Welt- und Gottesbild des Manichäismus by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Strategische Allianzen und das Sozialkapitel von Unternehmen by Rebecca Steltner
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy