The Existentialist Expressions In The Novels Of Clara Sánchez

Clara Sanchez,born in Guadalajara on March 1,1955,is one of the most well-known modern Spanish writers in the world.Before becoming a novelist,she had been engaged in many fields and all these experience have great influence in her writing.With her first novel Piedras Preciosas,the diligent writer has presented us with a total of 11 novels and has won large members of awards and reputation.Among her works,we select following ones to interpret:Un millon de luces(2003),Presentimientos(2008),Lo que esconde tu nombre(2010),Entra en mi vida(2012)and El cielo ha vuelto(2013).These five novels share common characteristics.First,all of them were published in 21st century and different from her old works.Second,all these five novels describe current Spanish society.Third,all five novels told us stories about the growth of young women or girls through which subjects such as solitude,death,human relations and meaning of life were discussed.Unlike the great success of her books and resonance among critics in many countries,we don't have much relevant research articles about it in China.Hence,this paper focuses on her works and hopes to' arise more attention of Chinese scholars and translators to this Spanish writer.This paper aims to analyze the reflected existential expressions in the writer's five novels.It includes four chapters.The first chapter chronologically presents the fundamental thoughts on the relationship between humans and the world;in particular the theory of the most important existentialism representative,Jean-Paul Sartre.His particularly existentialism with the element of atheism formulates three concepts in the contemporary existentialism philosophy.First,Sartre believes that the existence precedes essence.Second,the world is absurd,and the human life is painful.In his view,the conflict between people is apparent in modern society.In another word,others are hell.Third,the core idea is the liberty of action.Individual is absolutely freedom in his action.In the same chapter,we also review the history of the world and Spanish existentialism literature.The second chapter introduces the existentialist principles in these five novels from two angles:the absurdity of life,choice and freedom.All characters in her novels are ordinary people who feel confused and hopeless against the absurd world,lost in the relationship that others are hell.However,in.the face of major changes,these individuals who seem greatly vulnerable began to awake and pursue their dreams at their own will.The third chapter elaborates two narrative strategies used by the author in her works:costumbrismo and return to the story.The author focus on current times and her works described happiness and sorrow of ordinary people.The inspiration of the works originated from life experience of the author.Furthermore,the use of detective elements,such as intrigue and vicissitudes,enriches the novels more readable.The forth chapter analyzes two inherent values of the novels of Clara Sanchez:social commitment and inheritance of existentialism.Her works have revealed both the existential crisis of people and the scourges of the Spanish society.Above all,these social issues such as the Nazis and babies stealing have much echo among her readers.In addition,her works are similar to the existentialist novels of the 50s of last century.At the end,the conclusion suggests that the existentialist elements can be noticed inevitably in the works of Clara Sanchez.Although existentialism declined in the 60s as a literary movement,the discussion about the meaning of human existence never stops.As a result,her works can be seen as an inheritance and development of both global and Spanish existential literature.