Professional paper
The Notion of Existential Vacuum in Greene's Novel The End Of The Affair
Gordana Kustudić
; University of Montenegro
Abstract
In this paper we delve into the basic concepts of Viktor Frankl's psychological and philosophical theory, as well as the manner which makes it possible to identify and trace the development of these concepts in Graham Greene’s novel The End of the Affair. The paper elucidates the basic notion of existential vacuum, or the experience of the meaninglessness of life, by looking at its dialectic as displayed by the main characters in the novel. In addition, the meaning of the concepts of logos – as seen by existential psychology – and the will to meaning are examined, in an attempt to show to what extent their presence or absence in Greene's fictional world is actualized. Finally, the work particularly emphasizes the intensity of existential tension, which is reflected in the friction between being and meaning, and which necessarily indicates the presence of existential frustration, being, however, necessary for the full realization of meaning, logos, the essence of being.
Keywords
Viktor Frankl; Graham Greene; existential psychology; The End of the Affair; existential vacuum; logos; will to meaning; existential tension; existential frustration
Hrčak ID:
319780
URI
Publication date:
25.7.2024.
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