Fate
Key themes in existentialist thought
1. Inevitable Fate
The idea that certain events in human life are inevitable and that no matter what one does, they cannot escape certain endings. Characters seem to have given up trying to change events. This determinism emphasizes the limitations of humans in shaping their own future. It suggests that certain events in life are predetermined and that humans can only progress along this predetermined path.
2. Existential Indifference
A kind of emotional distance and disinterest towards life and events. Characters often show minimal emotional response even to tragic events. This attitude is a way of surviving in a world that appears absurd and meaningless. It can also be thought of as a defense mechanism developed in the face of the broad meaninglessness of life.
3. Passive Resistance
A silent stance developed against the expectations and impositions of society. Rather than openly opposing social norms, characters prefer not to comply with them. This is a silent rejection rather than an active struggle. It is a form of existence that avoids open conflict with the system while also refusing to join it.
4. The Cycle of Guilt and Punishment
The crimes committed by characters, their moral reckonings, and the subsequent internal or external punishment processes. The concept of crime is addressed here in both its legal and moral dimensions. The weight of conscience, self-punishment, and the relationship between these and societal punishments are questioned.
5. Alienation of Modern Humans
The feeling of disconnect and distance that modern humans feel towards themselves, society, and nature. This alienation is a result of the pace of modern life, technological developments, and the competitive environment created by the capitalist system. Humans have become estranged from their essence and have come to live in a kind of autopilot mode.
6. Nihilism and the Search for Meaning
The state of accepting that there is no inherent meaning in life and evolution. Characters are often people who have ended their search for meaning or have accepted meaninglessness. This nihilistic perspective, paradoxically, also offers a kind of freedom; because where there is no meaning, humans are free to create their own meaning.
7. Fatalism and Social Structure
The fatalistic understanding prevalent in society shapes individuals' thought and behavior patterns. Concepts such as 'kismet' and 'fortune' affect people's outlook on life. This fatalism sometimes creates a state of surrender, and sometimes opens up a paradoxical space of freedom. The fatalism imposed by the social structure is seen as the individual accepting their own destiny and achieving a kind of inner peace with this acceptance.