On The Theme Of Existentialism In Sontag’s Death Kit

Susan Sontag, honored as “The Conscience of America” and “The Last Intellectual”, is an important writer who has earned a high reputation in American literature as well as the world literature. Her literary creation is believed to have been profoundly influenced by French culture especially French Existentialism. The author of this thesis holds that Sontag’s acceptance of French Existentialism is explicit, but as one of the most illustrious contemporary female intellectuals in the West, Sontag has her unique insights into French Existentialism. Sontag’s second novel Death Kit may well reveal her reflection on Sartrean and Camusian Existentialism. With the application of Sartrean viewpoint of being, Sartrean viewpoint of free choices, and Camusian viewpoint of the absurd, this thesis aims to probe into Sontag’s critical acceptance of Sartrean and Camusian Existentialism.Sartre divides being into two types: being-in-itself and being-for-itself. Without subjectivity, one will degenerate into a purposeless being-in-itself. Therefore, one should take actions to create one’s essence. Sartre further discusses the relationship between one’s being and the being of others, and describes a bad one with the assertion “Hell is the other”. He encourages people to break through the “hell”. By analyzing Diddy’s behaviors of over-objectifying himself or others in Death Kit, the author of this thesis maintains that Sontag accepts Sartre’s viewpoints that one should not over-objectify oneself, and that one should not go to the other extreme — there should be a balance between subjectivity and objectivity. Besides being, free choice is another core notion in Sartrean Existentialism. Sartre believes that one should make free choices to shape one’s essence without hampering other people’s freedom and shoulder corresponding responsibilities arising therefrom. In Death Kit, Diddy keeps on making Sartrean free choices: giving up his medical studies in favor of Joan; quitting his job in favor of Hester; killing the workman. Sontag’s disapproval of Diddy’s murdering makes it clear that she accepts Sartre’s viewpoint that one should respect other people’s freedom when making free choices. However, it is also implied that Diddy’s seemingly responsible free choices made in favor of Joan and Hester, in some sense, are irresponsible for himself, for they are unfavorable to Diddy. In regard with Camusian viewpoint of the absurd, Sontag also has her critical thinking. She agrees that the world is absurd and that human beings should face the absurd so as to transcend it. The author of this thesis maintains that from Diddy’s attitude towards the absurd, it can be seen that Sontag prefers positive revolting against the absurd without depriving others’ rights.