Factors Influencing the Manifestation of Existentialism in Western Literature

This study examines the philosophical and literary foundations of existentialism, as well as the historical, cultural, and sociopolitical contexts that contributed to its emergence in Western literature. It aims to explore the interconnected influence of philosophy, history, and aesthetics on the development of existentialist thought, while acknowledging the contributions of prominent thinkers, including S.Kierkegaard, F.Nietzsche, M.Heidegger, J.Sartre, A.Camus, F.Kafka, and F.Dostoevsky.
The methodology combines historical-philosophical analysis with an examination of literary discourse. Primary sources include foundational existentialist works such as Being and Time by M.Heidegger, Being and Nothingness by J.Sartre, The Myth of Sisyphus by A.Camus, and The Trial by F.Kafka, alongside critical studies published in Scopus-indexed journals and recent research on modern European literature.
The findings show that existentialism in Western literature emerged in response to the challenges of modern life, including the decline of religious authority, the rise of industrial society, and the trauma of the World Wars. The philosophical ideas initiated by S.Kierkegaard and F.Nietzsche were further developed within M.Heidegger’s phenomenological framework and J.Sartre’s humanistic existentialism. These ideas found literary expression in F.Kafka’s depiction of alienation, A.Camus’s representation of the absurd, and F.Dostoevsky’s exploration of freedom and moral responsibility. Collectively, these works illuminate existentialism’s central concerns with human freedom, authenticity, and the search for meaning in an apparently indifferent world.
The analysis demonstrates that existentialism is not merely a philosophical doctrine but also a cultural response to the disillusionment of the twentieth century. It has significantly shaped the aesthetics of modern literature and continues to influence contemporary understandings of human existence. The study concludes that the multidisciplinary nature of existentialism, connecting philosophy, history, and literature, makes it a lasting framework for interpreting the human condition.