Albert Camus' Existentialist Perspective on the Novel Geethari

http://www.shanlaxjournals.com 97 £UP® Shanlax International Journal of Tamil Research Albert Camus’ Existentialist Perspective on the Novel Geethari S. Ponravid Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Tamil Erode Arts and Science College, Erode Dr. A. Ramalingam Associate Professor, Department of Tamil Erode Arts and Science College, Erode Abstract A novel is considered an important medium for expressing various social issues. Literary critics generally argue that a novel should be read in the context of the period in which it was written, and this viewpoint is valid. At the same time, some world thinkers have proposed general philosophical ideas about humanity. Reading a novel from such philosophical perspectives allows us to see not just the issues of a particular society or community, but also how the novel connects with the broader concerns of human life. From this viewpoint, S. Tamizhchelvi’s novel Geethari can be approached differently. On a superficial reading, the novel may seem to depict only the Idaiyar community. However, when read through the existentialist philosophy of Albert Camus, particularly his concept of “Absurd” (L’Absurde), the sufferings of the Idaiyar people are seen not merely as social or community problems but as part of the larger human existential crises. This article explores S. Tamizhchelvi’s Geethari from Albert Camus’ existentialist perspective. Keywords: Albert Camus, Existentialism, Philosophy, Absurdism, Geethari References 1. S.V. Rajadurai – Existentialism and Marxism, Vidiyal Publications, Coimbatore – 641015. 2. Gnan, S. – Opposing Perspectives, Kavya Publications, Chennai – 24. 3. S. Tamizhchelvi – Geethari, New Century Book House (P) Ltd., Chennai. 4. The myth of Sisyphus, penquin books ltd 5. Fear and trempling, penquin books ltd 6. Jean-Paul Sartre (Being and Nothingness -1943), (rouldge classics edition) 7. 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CuøÚ Q¯º÷PPõºm “|®¤UøP Gߣx A£zuzvß ÁȯõP PhÄÎß Pµ[PÎÀ SvzuÀ” GßQÓõº. “In faith there is a leap, by virtue of the absurd, into the arms of God.” Soren Kierkegaard ( Fear and Trembling 1843) Q¯º÷PPõºiß C¢u P¸zvøÚ Põ®² “philosopical suicide” GßÖ Â©º]UQÓõº. A£zu {ø»ø¯ ÷|µi¯õP HØPõ©À PhÄÒ |®¤UøP øÁzx Av¼¸¢x u¨¦® Âu©õP C¸¨£uõÀ CuøÚ J¸ “Philosopical Suicide” GßÖ P¸xQÓõº. Gvºzx ÁõÌuÀ (Revolt) ÁõÌUøP°ß Aºzuªßø©ø¯ Enº¢x, AuØS Ah[Q Âhõ©À Gvºzx {Ø£÷u ÁõÌUøPø¯ ©v¨¦ªUPuõPÄ® Pso¯©õÚuõPÄ® BUSQÓx GÚ Põ®² ö\õÀQÓõº. The revolt gives life its value. Spread out over the whole length of a life, it restores its majesty to that life Albert Camus’s The Myth of Sisyphus (1942). ©Ûuß JkUS•øÓUS GvµõP Qͺa] ö\#²® ÷£õx, Ax uÛ¨£mh Qͺa] AÀ», AøÚÁ›ß \õº£õPÄ® |h¨£uõP EÒÍx. Põ®²Âß The Plague (La Pest, 1947) |õÁ¼À, ¤÷ÍU ÷|õ¯õÀ £õvUP¨£m÷hõ›ß x¯µzvÀ, ©ÛuºPÒ J¸Á¸UöPõ¸Áº xøn{ßÖ ÷£õµõkQÓõºPÒ. “JØÖø© Gߣx PhÄÒ AÎUS® Aºzu©À», ©ÛuºP÷Í J¸Á¸UöPõ¸Áº Aºzu©õP C¸¨£x” GßQÓõº Põ®². 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