George Jung
Morris Panych’s play “7 stories” is written with notions of existentialism through out the character of the man. The dialogue that unfolds between him and the strangers also include existentialism.
One of the most important themes in this story is emotion and feelings of the characters which are important attributes of the philosophy of existentialism. “...many existentialists tended to stress the significance of emotions or feelings, in so far as they were presumed to have a less culturally or intellectually mediated relation to one’s individual and separate existence”. This quote very much reminds me of Rodney and Charlottes relationship as they seem to be the most emotional out of all of the characters. Their whole relationship is grounded on them trying to kill each other, as Charlotte says “it keeps the relationship alive” (Panych, 42). Perhaps a love hate relationship, but it seems although they’d rather be together then with out each other.
Panych discusses suicide while the man is conversing with Rachel. Rachel says by her mother taking the diazepam, god gave her the strength to do so to which the man replies; “… it’s a human act, it’s one act that defines all pre-destiny and its got nothing to do with anyone else. It stands alone. Complete and of itself” (Panych,63). This is an example of an existentialist view of free will and you’re responsibility for your actions. “Freedom entails something like responsibility, for myself and for my actions.... both my freedom and my responsibility are absolute”. If you decide to kill yourself, you are also throwing away your destiny. Everyone in the play is living off their partner’s or others expectations which defeats the whole purpose of being themselves, which is also the same in reality as well. I feel as if the man sees beyond the mentality of the other characters, and he’s thinking more outside the box and he was the one that wanted to end his life. It’s hard for individuals to appreciate their own
One of the most important themes in this story is emotion and feelings of the characters which are important attributes of the philosophy of existentialism. “...many existentialists tended to stress the significance of emotions or feelings, in so far as they were presumed to have a less culturally or intellectually mediated relation to one’s individual and separate existence”. This quote very much reminds me of Rodney and Charlottes relationship as they seem to be the most emotional out of all of the characters. Their whole relationship is grounded on them trying to kill each other, as Charlotte says “it keeps the relationship alive” (Panych, 42). Perhaps a love hate relationship, but it seems although they’d rather be together then with out each other.
Panych discusses suicide while the man is conversing with Rachel. Rachel says by her mother taking the diazepam, god gave her the strength to do so to which the man replies; “… it’s a human act, it’s one act that defines all pre-destiny and its got nothing to do with anyone else. It stands alone. Complete and of itself” (Panych,63). This is an example of an existentialist view of free will and you’re responsibility for your actions. “Freedom entails something like responsibility, for myself and for my actions.... both my freedom and my responsibility are absolute”. If you decide to kill yourself, you are also throwing away your destiny. Everyone in the play is living off their partner’s or others expectations which defeats the whole purpose of being themselves, which is also the same in reality as well. I feel as if the man sees beyond the mentality of the other characters, and he’s thinking more outside the box and he was the one that wanted to end his life. It’s hard for individuals to appreciate their own