Nearly everything in life involves making a choice, either big or small. According to Albert Camus, an existentialist, life is considered absurd because the meaning of life has no answer, yet one continually searches for meaning while knowing death is inevitable. One is responsible and free to determine the meaning of life for oneself. People will continue to create a purpose for themselves and struggle to accept death. This is what makes life absurd and the act of searching for meaning pointless. He describes that the Absurd life comprises of “Consistency, authenticity, self-awareness” (Barnett 3).
In other words, one must be true to and conscious of their choices in life to follow the Absurd. A main component of existentialism is that “Each individual must choose his or her way of life freely, and be passionately committed to it” (Barnett 2). These ideas of existentialism are applicable to characters from different novels who all choose to act at their own discretion. For example, in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s choices are primarily influenced by deep passion and ambition as they make plans to kill King Duncan and obtain the throne.
Similarly, in The Stranger by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault displays an indifferent but content attitude toward various situations and personal circumstances. He makes choices freely and commits to them without letting social or religious norms change them. In Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses, the protagonist John Grady Cole makes a better life for himself as he ventures to Mexico in search of his dream to become a rancher. Each author highlights the onsequences of the characters’ actions, as well as their reactions. Indeed, the protagonists from these pieces of literature each make individual choices that exhibit qualities of this existential philosophy. These characters emphasize that one must follow through with their choices no matter the risks and accept consequences in order to fulfill one’s life to a greater purpose and remain true to oneself. The characters in the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare make individual choices to fulfill their evil intentions.
After Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth learn of their prophecies that Macbeth will become thane of Cawdor and King, they decide that the only way to seize this throne is to kill the current King Duncan. Lady Macbeth expresses ambition and passion toward this plan as depicted in their conversation: “[Macbeth]: Duncan comes here to-night. / [Lady Macbeth]: 0, never / Shall sun that morrow see! … be the serpent under’t. He that’s coming/ Must be provided for” (Shakespeare l. v. p. 13). The witches’ prophecies did not mention murdering King Duncantheir choice to kill Duncan was entirely their decision.
They make their own choices freely based upon evil and ambitious intentions. In order to secure his throne, Macbeth makes a personal choice to murder a soldier of Scotland, named Banquo. Before killing Banquo, Macbeth tells one of the murderers, “Do you find / Your patience so predominant in your nature, / That you can let this go? ” (Shakespeare III. i. p. 36). Macbeth is passionately committed to execute the plan and desperately wants it to work out. In doing so, he conveys the existential principle as he acts alone and stays dedicated to his plan.
However, by the end, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth cannot abide by their choices because of the increasing guilt they face. They cannot continue with their plans which eventually lead them to self-destruction. Near the end of the play, Macbeth hears the cry of a woman, and reflects, “Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir / As life were in’t: I have supp’d full with horrors” (Shakespeare V. v. p. 76). Macbeth’s choices lead to a loss of control of his life as he sees himself as a monster who has gone too far.
Although their choices lead to their tragic downfall, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pursue their lives with what they wanted and attempt to commit to their plan to the best of their abilities. As they do so, it reveals how they remain true to themselves based on their passion. Similar to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, the protagonist Meursault from Albert Camus’ The Stranger makes choices he is responsible for and commits to them even in difficult times. Meursault is a peculiar man who reacts to various situations with indifferent attitudes but is aware of his physical surroundings.
The choices he makes throughout the novel influences his attitude and sense of content with life. When Meursault turns down a job offer from his boss, he does not care much about it, and he responds, “I answered that one never changed his way of life; one life was as good as another, and my present one suited me quite well” (Camus 52). Meursault feels that his life has remained the way it has always been. His response is considered a little unusual, since an average person would accept this type of job offer.
Meursault’s distinct reaction illustrates Barnett’s ideas of existentialism because he acts on his own choices and is satisfied. It is ultimately his choice to live freely without letting external forces influence his way of thinking. His choices, devotion to these choices, and lifestyle eventually lead to him to face conflicts with the law and imprisonment. By the end of the novel, Meursault reflects on his life and past choices, stating, “I’d been right, I was still right, I was always right. I’d passed my life in a certain way” (Camus 151).
Despite his current situation with the law, Meursault has committed to his choices and does not regret them. He finds satisfaction in fulfilling his personal choices rather than following other’s expectations. After Meursault speaks with a prison chaplain, who attempts to convince Meursault to believe in God and change his ways, he says, “To feel it so like myself, indeed, so brotherly, made me realize that I’d been happy, and that I was happy still” (Camus 154). Meursault is content with his life and refuses to follow the chaplain’s ideas.
He stays firm to his choices thus exemplifying Barnett’s principle of existentialism. Meursault’s commitment to his life choices result in his level of acceptance and satisfaction with life all while remaining true to his actions. It is evident that Meursault and the characters from Macbeth make their own choices and attempt to commit to them, and John Grady Cole from Cormac McCarthy’s All the Pretty Horses is no different. After facing personal hardships and struggles to retain his family’s ranch, John Grady feels his dream of becoming a rancher is not achievable in Texas.
He decides to leave his past behind and cross the border into Mexico with an optimistic mindset. Before leaving Texas, he looks back and the narrator describes, “Would have known that there was something missing for the world to be right or he right in it and would have set forth to wander wherever it was needed for as long as it took until he came upon one and he would have known that that was what he sought and it would have been” (McCarthy 23). John Grady’s decision to go to Mexico is definitive and based on personal conviction. He believes that he must leave and make a better life for himself.
He also assures his friend Rawlins that he is making the right choice for himself, telling him, ‘What the hell reason you got for stayin? You think somebody’s goin to die and leave you somethin? ” (McCarthy 27). John Grady has a reason to move on from his past life and makes a personal choice to venture to Mexico. He doesn’t want to wait any longer and wants to pursue his dream to make the most out of his life. Even after facing obstacles with a young boy named Blevins, conflicts with the Mexican rancher Don Hector, and brutal prison experiences in Mexico, John Grady continues to uphold his choices and persevere.
His impulsive character and passion to achieve his dream has brought his life to a greater purpose. John Grady soon realizes that his dreams weren’t completely attainable in Mexico, so he journeys his way back. Once he returns to Texas, John Grady reunites with Rawlins who asks, “Where is your country? ” (McCarthy 299) and John Grady responds, I dont know… I dont know where it is. I dont know what happens to country” (McCarthy 299). Although John Grady didn’t completely achieve his dreams of becoming a rancher, he still remains hopeful and exhibits the same passion he has in making this choice.
He continues to seek the same dream, as the narrator states, “Passed and paled into the darkening land, the world to come” (McCarthy 302). He maintains the same determination to follow his dream, as he still awaits for his dreams to become a reality. By continuing to commit to his choices, John Grady is able to stay true to himself. He owns up to his choices and accepts the consequences. Abiding by one’s choices allows one to fulfill one’s own expectations and reach a level of personal satisfaction. Moreover, John Grady’s character proves that commitment to choices will bring greater meaning to life.
These three pieces of literature highlight one’s need to make individual choices and firmly commit to them as much as possible. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth display the least commitment to their choices as they endure and attempt to follow through with their murderous plans. Meursault, although not as passionate, is content with his life choices and eventually accepts the consequences. While Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Meursault’s results of their choices are undesirable and adverse, John Grady’s choices lead to a greater, more positive impact because of his continuous commitment.
In all three of these cases, the characters show that one must create a purpose for themselves rather than waiting for one’s life to change on its own. They choose to freely take action in the face of the unknown. One who stays dedicated to their choices will achieve what they want and define one’s life to a higher purpose. Making a choice for oneself offers room for improvement and possible learning experiences, which can enrich one’s life. Any choice that involves personal conviction, passion, and dedication leads an individual to a more authentic life.
