Published Paper Details:

This research paper examines philosophical themes found in literary works and aims at identifying the themes of existentialism in the novel Disgrace with reference to Jean Paul Sartre's existentialism. Disgrace is interesting to analyse from the perspective of the philosophy of existentialism, particularly ideas of Sartre, for several reasons. First, this novel portrays a central character named David Lurie, a fifty-two-year-old professor of communications at the Cape Technical University. He is dissatisfied in his present relocation as an adjunct-professor of communications in the university. His alienation and despair appear when he is dismissed from his job at the university after having sexual relation with one of his students, Melanie Isaacs. Second, the problems faced by David deal with the problems of losing - winning, life- death and the problem of responsibility which are the basic ideas of Sartre's existentialism. Thirdly, based on the critical reviews, the studies on this novel have focused more on themes such as the legacy of colonialism and racism, the exploitation and subjugation of women and compassion and empathy for animals. The problems of existential ideas of Sartre such as anxiety and alienation have not been the subject of attention. In short, there is a gap here about what has been done and what needs to be done.