This is a humble attempt to understand and appreciate a renowned
work by the most famous author Jean Paul Satre whose thoughts and philosophy had
never ceased to enchant readers world wide. I had an opportunity to read the
book “the Age of reason “by Jean Paul Sartre, a renowned author and philosopher
who advocates the philosophy of Existentialism, a philosophy I am still
struggling to comprehend. Everyone has their own definition of freedom. This doctrine
advocates that each individual is responsible to give meaning to their life, not
situation or religion. From what I understood it is a kind of freedom, to think
and act according to our will and be responsible for the outcome. I was very
much fascinated by this idea from a long time, only I never knew about such a
term.
It was fate or destiny that brought this book to me, I never
had thought I would understand or appreciate such a style of fiction. But one
could only be awestruck by such a great work of art and wish if we could also
have a life, a bit absurd but free from all bonds.
The main protagonist Mathieu, is not a typical hero who is
perfect and adorable, he is just an ordinary being with human weaknesses and
vices. The story starts with a
conversation between Mathieu and his lover Marcelle, where she is revealing the
fact that she is pregnant with his child. Mathieu is not elated or dejected but
confused. He knows it is he who is responsible and Marcelle is the one who is
suffering. They decide to get rid of it, an action which is not at all
acceptable from a respectable middle aged professor. The fear that he would
lose his freedom and that he would be tied with the bond of matrimony is
stopping him from accepting his responsibility. Though he is not married to
her, he is concerned and in a way cares for her and doesn’t allow her to meet
any unprofessional abortion doctors. His relationship with Marcelle is platonic
but he is in a way caring He tries his best to raise the money and goes to the extent
of stealing money from a Singer Lola , a middle aged singer who is the girl
friend of one of his closest disciple Boris. Lola, Boris a young boy who feels
he has no future, his sister Ivich,Brunet –Mathieu’s communist friend, etc are
the important characters in focus. The story happens in the background of Spanish
civil war.
He is in such a confused situation and he tried to escape
from the situation by spending time with Boris and his Sister Ivich. Ivich is a
very Strange character, who is very young and enjoys her freedom to the full extend.
She is youthful and at times she behaves in an eccentric manner. Mathieu is very much attracted to this young
girl whose spirit of freedom fascinates him. She is strong yet vulnerable,
delicate but at times violent. He shares a strange bond with her, which is
above infatuation or love. When she cuts her hand with a knife he too does the
same in a desperate means to connect with her.
Another important character is Daniel who is known to
Mathieu. Daniel is very much close to Marcelle but Mathieu is unaware of this kinship.
Marchelle calls Daniel Archangel. She feels very comfortable with him and thinks
he understands her better than Mathieu. He makes her realise that she, from her
heart of hearts wants the child and that the child too needs her.
Mathieu steals the money from Lola for the abortion in a desperate
way but Marcelle refuses it. Daniel now act as a true hero and confess his
affection for Marcelle to Mathieu, despite that fact that he is a homosexual .Daniel
could never love her in a romantic way, but his fondness for her makes him take such a
decision and accept her with the child. Daniel detest Mathieu and in a way is taking his revenge. Mathieu is bewildered and helpless, he now
realizes what he had lost; A comfortable and happy life with his wife and kid,
but at the cost of his obsession, his freedom. He accepts that everything is
happening due to his own actions and takes sole responsibility for his fate. He
feels he reached the age of reason, that he is capable of making reasonable judgement.
There is no more absurdity no more confusion, he is all alone and there is no
one else to blame.
This story deals about complex human behavior and
relations. Socially accepted rights and wrongs can sometimes vary from personal
judgement. Mathieu cannot be blamed, but one can only sympathise with him. Is he selfish, does he consider his freedom worth
more than a life? It is very difficult to understand the thought process. There
are many people who must have undergone similar situations in life. Is it their
decision or fate that had changed their lives? To be or not to be that is
indeed the greatest question anyone will face in life. And yes I feel we are
solely responsible for our actions.
