Nothing Exists Beyond Existence Itself essays

Nothing Exists Beyond Existence Itself essays Existentialism gets its name from an insistence that human life is understandable only in terms of an individual persons existence, his or her particular experience of life (Bigelow 1). Portions of Fyodor Dostoyevskys Crime and Punishment and Albert Camuss The Stranger signify segments of existential beliefs. Dostoevskys subtle approach towards existential philosophies and Camuss more forthright attitude, while very different in most respects, share a few likenesses as well. There exists a theme of intense alienation in Crime and Punishment that remains constant throughout the novel. The alienation begins when Raskolnikov separates himself from society because he sees his views and ideals as far superior to the rest of societys. He separates himself emotionally from his family and, despite how much his mother loves him, only uses them for their money. Raskolnikov further alienates himself and falls into a somewhat delirious paranoia after committing the murder of Alyona and her sister. The reader sees Raskolnikov as an outsider through the very end of the novel Even while he finds himself imprisoned in Siberia, a place set aside specifically for the outsiders of this world, a terrible impossible gulf [lies] between him and all the rest [of the prisoners]. They [seem] to be a different species, and he [looks] at them and they at him with distrust and hostility (Dostoevsky 516). In Six Steps of Existentialism, Gordon Bigelow names alienation and estrange ment as one of the six doctrines of Existentialism, therefore existentialism becomes, in a certain respect, a main idea of Crime and Punishment. The existential world that Raskolnikov falls into by the end of the novel scares him; mere existence [has] always been too small for him; he [has] always wanted something bigger (Dostoevsky 515). The number one step of existentialism, as outlin...