Sense of Alienation in Goethe'sElective Affinities

Abstract

The main objective of the research is to explore the existential alienation of characters in Goethe's novelElective Affinitiesfrom the perspective of existential philosophy. Characters in the novel make their own choices to create essence, which is a self-construct and has nothing to do in conformity with others. They try to evade compromise and contingency. Eduard, Charlotte, Captain and Ottiliecreate their own world in their thought and remain committed to it. They live with other people but exist alone. They seek private truth and find it only in isolation from 'they'. Eduard compromises neither with Charlotte nor with Ottilie. He tries his best to lead his life in romance but finally it proves to be merely sugar-coated romance because he can neither pass his life happily with Charlotte nor succeed in getting married with Ottilie despite his all attempts and efforts. At the end, he not only loses Ottilie but also his own life. His vigorous attempts to marry Ottilie become like chasing wind as she commits suicide. Ultimately, after her suicide, Eduard finds nowhere to lean against. Therefore, he decides to be free from this existing hostile and demonic world. He takes suicide as his weapon to fight against the rude and chaotic world and therefore he commits suicide. Though the novel is a romantic text, it ends with the sheer alienation of characters. Death is the extreme form of human feelings andpassions which results in the optimum sense of alienation of the characters in the entire novel Elective Affinities.