INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 445
THE INFLUENCE OF EXISTENTIALISM IN ENGLISH LITERATURE IN
THE 20TH CENTURY
Sirojiddinova Muxlisa
Department of Practical English and Literature
Faculty of Foreign Philology
ANNOTATION:
This article explores how existentialist philosophy shaped English literature
in the 20th century. It highlights the integration of themes such as freedom, absurdity,
alienation, and identity into literary expression. The works of authors like Samuel Beckett, Iris
Murdoch, and Virginia Woolf are examined as case studies to demonstrate how existentialism
provided a framework for exploring human experience. Drawing on the ideas of Kierkegaard,
Sartre, and Camus, the paper argues that literature served as a powerful platform for existential
inquiry in a rapidly changing world.
Keywords:
existentialism, absurdity, freedom, alienation, identity, modern literature
АННОТАЦИЯ:
В статье исследуется влияние экзистенциалистской философии на
английскую литературу XX века. Особое внимание уделяется темам свободы, абсурда,
отчуждения и идентичности, которые нашли отражение в произведениях таких авторов,
как Сэмюэл Беккет, Айрис Мердок и Вирджиния Вулф. Основываясь на идеях Киркегора,
Сартра и Камю, автор показывает, как литература стала средством выражения
экзистенциальных вопросов.
Ключевые слова:
экзистенциализм, абсурд, свобода, отчуждение, идентичность,
современная литература
ANNOTATSIYA:
Ushbu maqolada ekzistensialistik falsafaning 20-asr ingliz adabiyotiga
ta’siri yoritiladi. Erkinlik, begonalashuv, absurdlik va shaxsiy o‘zlik kabi mavzular adabiy
ifodada qanday mujassam bo‘lganiga e’tibor qaratiladi. Samuel Bekket, Iris Merdok va Virginia
Vulf kabi yozuvchilarning asarlari tahlil qilinib, Kierkegaard, Sartre va Camus g‘oyalariga
asoslangan holda ekzistensializmning zamonaviy inson tajribasiga qanday ta’sir qilgani
ko‘rsatib beriladi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
ekzistensializm, absurdlik, erkinlik, begonalashuv, o‘zlik, zamonaviy adabiyot
INTRODUCTION
In the wake of two world wars, social disintegration, and spiritual doubt, the 20th century
witnessed the rise of existentialist thought in English literature. As writers sought new ways to
interpret the human condition, literature became a means of philosophical inquiry. This article
examines how existentialist concepts such as individual freedom, absurdity, and moral
responsibility were expressed through narrative form and character development in English
literary works.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 446
Søren Kierkegaard (1849) is often regarded as the father of existentialism, emphasizing
personal choice and subjective truth. Jean-Paul Sartre (1943) introduced the idea of being
condemned to freedom, while Albert Camus (1942) discussed the absurd nature of life. These
ideas profoundly influenced English-speaking writers grappling with post-war disillusionment.
Their works reflect the tensions between despair and meaning, autonomy and fate.
EXISTENTIAL ELEMENTS IN 20TH-CENTURY ENGLISH LITERATURE
- Absurdity and Meaninglessness
Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” portrays two characters endlessly waiting for a figure
who never arrives. Through minimalist language and cyclical dialogue, the play illustrates the
absurdity of existence.
- Freedom and Responsibility
Iris Murdoch’s novels, including “The Bell”, explore how individuals confront moral
ambiguity in a world without clear values. Characters are often faced with complex ethical
decisions.
- Alienation and Identity Crisis
Virginia Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness narrative in “Mrs. Dalloway” reveals the inner
alienation of characters despite their social surroundings. The fragmentation of narrative
mirrors the fragmentation of the self.
- Death and Authentic Existence
Many 20th-century works focus on mortality as a motivator for authentic living, echoing
Heidegger’s idea of “being-toward-death.”
CHALLENGES IN INTERPRETATION
- Misreading existentialism as nihilism or pessimism
- Overlooking the historical context behind philosophical themes
- Translating European existential concepts into culturally different English contexts
- Underestimating the moral seriousness of existential inquiry in literary works
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR LITERATURE STUDY
- Philosophical Journals: Students reflect on existential themes in characters’ decisions
- Comparative Analysis: Reading literature alongside existential texts (e.g., Sartre with Beckett)
- Creative Response: Writing modern short stories inspired by existential concepts
- Discussion-Based Learning: Debates on freedom, responsibility, and authenticity in literature
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Existentialism deeply influenced English literature in the 20th century, offering a lens through
which authors explored human vulnerability, freedom, and the quest for meaning. To fully
understand these works, literary education should integrate philosophical context and encourage
personal engagement with existential ideas. This approach fosters not only analytical skills but
also ethical reflection and cultural depth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 06,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 447
References:
1. Kierkegaard, S. (1849). “The Sickness Unto Death”.
2. Sartre, J.-P. (1943). “Being and Nothingness”.
3. Camus, A. (1942). “The Myth of Sisyphus”.
4. Beckett, S. (1953). “Waiting for Godot”.
5. Murdoch, I. (1958). “The Bell”.
6. Woolf, V. (1925). “Mrs. Dalloway”.
7. Heidegger, M. (1927). “Being and Time”.
8. Flynn, T. (2006). “Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction". Oxford University Press.
