On Charles's Quest For The Meaning Of Existence

John Fowles is one of the most important writers in British contemporary literary world. In 1969, he created his masterpiece The French Lieutenant's Woman. In this book. John Fowles thinks deeply on the issues such as individual authenticity, freedom, choice and independent existence. Therefore, since its publication, it has attracted much attention of many critics and readers. The majority of critics focus their study on the "otherness" of Sarah's character and her role in guiding Charles in seeking for authenticity and freedom. As for Charles, almost all of them regard him as a "conventional" rebel and they have not offered us a definite answer about whether he achieves authenticity and freedom or not. The present study is based on the theory of existentialism. By analyzing Charles's extraordinary experiences, this thesis tries to find an answer to this question; on the other hand, it brings to light John Fowles's philosophical thoughts contained in theses experiences.This paper is composed of 5 parts:The first part is the introduction, in which the writer gives a brief account of the profound influence that existentialism exerts upon John Fowles's writing. It also reviews the present study of John Fowles's masterpiece The French Lieutenant's Woman at home and abroad, and then it gives the reason why this subject is chosen, the aim that this subject is studied, and introduces the theory adopted in studying as well.The second part is "From Inauthenticity to Authenticity". Firstly, the writer expounds the existentialists' ideas about the human being's inauthentic and authentic existence. Namely, in inauthentic existence, the human being is in self-deception. He has no identity and acts with others' opinions. In authentic existence, the human being is in a constant state of flux. He has his own identity. He analyses himself and acts with his own ideas. Secondly, based on these ideas, the writer, by analyzing a serious of Charles's extraordinary experiences from meeting Sarah (Chapter2, 10,16,18,20,21), trysting and falling in love with Sarah (Chapter31, 46,47), being jilted by Sarah (Chapter 61) and to the breaking of his marital engagement with Ernestina (Chapter26), mainly discusses Charles's inauthentic and authentic existence.The third part is "The Existential Void and Self-awareness". Firstly, the writer expounds the relationship between the existential void and self-awareness. According to Camus's philosophical theory, self-awareness is the only road to being free from the existential void and to achieve authenticity. Secondly, based on this theory, the writer chiefly discusses how Sarah, with the "otherness" of her character, awakens Charles's interest in and passion for sex and sharpens his ability to know himself and the world, and finally guides him to develop and strengthen his self-awareness.The fourth part is " Choice and Freedom". Freedom is the human being's sacred right. To be free, the human beings must make a choice. In the first ending, Charles marries the insipid fiancee Ernestina Freeman. He gives up freedom and succumbs to Victorian conventions. In the second ending, Sarah and Charles's reluctant union is mainly due to their child. The decision of their union is not from their own choice, but from the determinism forces. In the third ending, Charles leaves Sarah in spite of her detaining him. His action or choice is completely from his self-determination. By analyzing Sarah's experiences in seeking for freedom, the writer finds that these experiences lie in a circular course, which implies that Charles will undergo another similar experience or even more ones to achieve his freedom. This kind of peculiar structure of the novel shows us Fowles's philosophical thoughts: the human being's value lies in the course of constantly seeking for freedom and truth.The fifth part is the conclusion. By reviewing Charles's long and extraordinary experiences in seeking for authenticity and freedom, the writer finds that in them lies John Fowles's philosophical thoughts: confronting hardships in life, a man with...