A sartrean existentialist look at Bach's illusions: the adventures of reluctant Messiah

Abstract

Primarily introduced through the works of a Danish scholar Søren Kierkegaard in nineteenth century, existentialism is in fact a socio-personal philosophy, which assumes man as radically free, while he is captivated in the inevitable chains of social responsibilities and commitments. Existentialism disregards the established traditional values, and emphasizes an individual's choice and free will while compelling him to confront his duplicities and to take responsibility of them. For existentialists, being-in-the-world defines experience. Following Sartrean notion of whether you are present here and now or you are off in an illusive state, an existentialist would not ask, Who you are? rather he focuses on Where you are?. Thus existentialism gives priority to existence not essence. This article investigates the significant trends of the twentieth century existentialism with regard to Sartrean notion of the term and applies existentialism and the notion of individualistic and social illusions to Richard Bach's Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah which questions the authenticity of reality from the view point of the central character.