It gave me the distinct impression that the characters were rather muddled and somewhat peculiar in their portrayal of this story. In this work of Sartre's, almost everything seemed to have fallen short of my expectations. However, I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I believe that Sartre is more at home with other pieces that have a philosophical bent and is perhaps a little more receptive to those. This particular work seems quite distant from the very typical Sartrean actions and themes that I have come to expect. It's as if he is exploring a different territory here, one that I am not entirely familiar with. But despite my initial misgivings, I am still intrigued enough to want to explore this work further and see if there are hidden depths and meanings that I have yet to uncover.
“If a couple who are created for each other, due to an error of the administration, have not been able to meet in their lives, they may desire to return to the earth to realize their unjustly deprived love and live their common lives, and in some cases, they may be allowed to do so.”
The father of existential philosophy, Sartre, tells the story of Pierre and Eve, who find each other's love after death, in this novel written in the style of a play script. Even if our couple, who belong to different classes and are late for each other, are given a second chance, they cannot escape the inevitable end.
This story explores the themes of love, fate, and the human condition. It makes us question whether love is truly powerful enough to overcome all obstacles, even death. Sartre's writing style adds a sense of drama and intensity to the narrative, making it a captivating read.
Overall, this novel offers a unique perspective on love and the choices we make in life. It challenges us to think about what we would do if we were given a second chance to pursue our true love.
“Dies ist kein existenzialistisches Buch!” This statement by JP seems rather dismissive. However, one has to wonder if JP is truly being honest with himself. Maybe there are elements within the book that he is choosing to ignore or downplay. It could be that he has a preconceived notion of what an existentialist book should be like, and this particular work doesn't fit that mold in his eyes. But who's to say that his definition is the only correct one? The idea that he is “lying to himself” as the other person suggests might hold some merit. Perhaps JP is afraid to admit that there could be something existentialist about the book, for whatever reason. Maybe it challenges his beliefs or makes him uncomfortable. In any case, it's an interesting exchange that makes one question the nature of JP's claim and the truth behind it.
Bijzonder verhaal van Sartre over twee mensen die na hun overlijden in het dodenrijk elkaar leren kennen en verliefd op elkaar worden. Ze denken dat ze eigenlijk voor elkaar waren voorbestemd, waardoor ze een tweede kans krijgen. Gedurende 24 uur mogen ze elkaar opzoeken en van elkaar gaan houden. Toch blijkt dat wanneer ze in het rijk der levenden aangekomen zijn, ze weer worden opgeslokt door hun dagelijkse dromen en bezigheden.
Sartre weet de zinloosheid der dingen op ontluisterende manier neer te zetten. In dit verhaal zit heel wat meer dan wat ik er aanvankelijk uit haal. Wat ik er tot nu toe uit pik is, is dat het leven vanuit het perspectief van de doden geen zin heeft. De doden willen niet worden geconfronteerd met het leven omdat het te pijnlijk, te zinloos en te ondraaglijk is. Daarnaast hebben de doden ook een gemis: het deel hebben aan het leven zelf en het genieten van de dingen die ermee gepaard gaan, zoals het hebben van een lichaam en relaties hebben met de levenden.
Echter, de levend geworden doden in het verhaal merken dat het leven zelf ook allerlei lasten en bekommernissen meebrengt, waarvan ze geen last hadden in het dodenrijk. Ze worden weer meegezogen door de stroming van het dagelijkse leven en verliezen het gevoel van vrijheid en verbondenheid dat ze hadden gevoeld in het dodenrijk.