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CHOOSING MEANING IN A MEANINGLESS WORLD: EXISTENTIALISM AND THE BURDEN OF FREEDOM IN CORMAC MCCARTHY'S CHARACTERS

Madina Radjabova , Bukhara State University PhD Student

Abstract

The novels written by Cormac McCarthy are frequently distinguished by their desolate settings, terrible events, and characters who are open to moral interpretation. The purpose of this article is to investigate the creative expression of existentialism that can be found in McCarthy's writings. More specifically, the essay will concentrate on the subject matter of characters struggling with the weight of freedom in a world that is empty of any inherent value. The purpose of this essay is to show that McCarthy's characters exemplify the existential battle to create meaning and express individual agency in the face of nihilism and the ludicrous. This is accomplished by analyzing the decisions and actions of significant figures in the novels Blood Meridian, No Country for Old Men, and The Road. In this analysis, we will look into the ways in which the characters come face to face with the ideas of freedom, responsibility, authenticity, and the hunt for worth in a society where traditional moral frameworks have been destroyed. Furthermore, the essay will discuss how McCarthy's distinctive narrative style and stark portrayal of the human condition work to stress the existential aspects of his characters' travels. This will be done by analyzing how McCarthy presents the human situation.

 

Keywords

Cormac McCarthy, existentialism, freedom, responsibility, meaning, nihilism, absurd, “Blood Meridian”, “No Country for Old Men”, “The Road”, choice, authenticity.

References

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CHOOSING MEANING IN A MEANINGLESS WORLD: EXISTENTIALISM AND THE BURDEN OF FREEDOM IN CORMAC MCCARTHY’S CHARACTERS. (2025). International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 5(03), 923-928. https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai/article/view/3406