THOMAS HARDY: THE EXISTENTIAL MAN (original) (raw)

The present paper demonstrates how Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), the world famous poet and regional novelist of Victorian Era (1837-1901), is an existential man. Hardy, known for the Wessex novels, is called an existentialist or an existential man by virtue of the existential ingredients which are present in his life, verses and novels that directly or indirectly reveal him to be a man with existential flavor. Not to talk of tracing existentialism in his verses, novels and letters, this paper rockifies these standpoints by exploring the existential dimensions even in his attitude and life. His life, which is reflected in his works, is replete with the arrows of questions with the aim of piercing all the issues, related to the meaning, purpose, and value of human existence along with individual, God, Being and Truth. To him, not only the birth of the individual but also this world, where man resides while encountering nothingness with the windfall of alienation, angst and anxiety, is absurd and this absurdity causes existential crisis. The man whose mind and heart is crammed with such crises can never escape from leading an existential life. That the reason is impotent in dealing with the depth of life is the very essence of Hardy"s life and works. On the other hand, the power of man, the power of moment, particularly awe walk, truthiness and industrialization, and the influence of various philosophers are some points that are responsible for turning him into an existential man are also explored here.