Journeys through Choice The very ideas of life have been questioned since the dawn of man. The mystery and meaning of human existence have been pondered by the majority of all who possess a soul. Existentialism is defined as philosophical thinking beginning at an individualistic level, as described by John Macquarrie (14-15). The belief that every choice one makes affects the course of life is an idea that is widely accepted but not realized that the belief of existentialism is being exhibited.
Existentialism can be traced back to the beginning of civilization. The concept of existentialism is extremely complex. Various ideas are expressed under the umbrella term of existentialism. These ideas include the conception of absurdism, which develop
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In Crime and Punishment, the idea of existentialism is displayed in a multitude of ways but the most recognizable way includes the main plot with the main character Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov. In this story, Raskolnikov questions his very existence on many levels, specifically in part one. His guilt and fear overcome him at various points later in the novel, which develops an internal conflict between apathy and consciousness, but a large portion of the book includes introspection into Raskolnikov’s inner thoughts as well as the idea of him being socially unconscious for some time, and thus contributing to why he committed two vicious murders. Raskolnikov is introduced as a brilliant man, but a man who has lost his feeling of being. His existentialist properties are exhibited by Dostoyesky displaying to the reader Raskolnikov’s lack of general meaning for existence. Raskolnikov leaves school and lives in a rundown apartment and never pays his landlady. He questions the idea of whether men are judged more upon action or thought, and eventually he takes the proposition into his own hands and commits murder, only to deal with the consequences (Part