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Introduction

Many theories and philosophies quickly gain but even more quickly lose their potency. Existentialism, however has proliferated since the middle of the twentieth century and remained part of contemporary thought. Today, existentialism manifests itself in the Theater of the Absurd, wherein people quest for meaning, justice, and rationality in an indifferent universe that is not logical. Existentialism, a most intriguing topic, is the focus of this "bridge" to Stoppard’s absurd Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.

Existentialism entered the philosophical arena in about 1950’s and immediately attracted followers because of its applicability to contemporary life and society. Existentialism is an amalgamation of many different philosophies and theories focusing on the utter existence of man itself. The existence itself and its absurdity directly relates to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead forming the connection or "bridge" to existentialism and the play. Although the true exponents of existentialism prefer not to be classified as such, the main focus of this study concerns the authors and philosophers that have shaped this theory and naturally the meaning of the diverse and differing theory itself.

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Existentialism © 1999 by
Jacqueline Chmar ... Brian Gillis ... Sonia Gosain ... Rob Harrison


Last Updated 1-25-99