An Interpretation Of Everything I Never Told You From The Perspective Of Sartre's Existentialism

Everything I Never Told You,a debut novel by Chinese-American novelist Celeste Ng,focuses on the plight of an interracial family in the 1970 s in America and explores the themes of interpersonal alienation,loneliness and freedom.Based on the textual analysis of the novel,the thesis aims to reveal Lydia's search for authenticity in an alienated and absurd world from the perspective of Sartre's existentialism.Firstly,Sartre asserts that the world is absurd.The thesis puts an emphasis on the exposure of Lydia's living predicament,including racial discrimination,gender inequality deep-seated in American society,and her parents' incompatible marriage.Secondly,Sartre thinks that under the look of “the Other”,“I” will lose my own subjectivity and transcendence,and then be reduced to an object.Therefore it accounts for why Lydia succumbs to the pressure from her parents' and American society's look and leads her life in line with Others' expectations.That is self-alienation.Meanwhile,the thesis deploys Sartre's theory of interpersonal alienation to expound on the alienated relationship between Lydia and Nath.Lydia confines Nath within her look,thus forming the alienated relationship between Nath and herself.Furthermore,Sartre claims if one wants to pursue authenticity,he or she is required to strike a balance between facticity and transcendence.Lydia revolts against the alienation imposed by the look,and then she becomes fully aware of her facticity.Finally,she drills eventually down to the source of her pain.Though Lydia's life ends unexpectedly,she takes the initiative to face her facticity and the responsibility for her families as well as herself,which indicates that she has already lived an authentic life.In general,the thesis concludes that the exploration of characters' existence is in accordance with Sartre's existential ideas.Confronted with the absurdity and alienation,Lydia still has the courage to pursue authenticity.This reveals Ng's deep concern over the living conditions of Chinese Americans and her support for their pursuit of authenticity.