50 First Dates Naturalism

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50 First Dates portray a witty comedy depicting a shift from naturalism to existentialism as Henry navigates his purpose in life while following society and clinging on to his earthly desires. The 2004 hit screenplay written by George Wing follows major tenets of Existentialism and Naturalism. Naturalists believe that life can only be explained within the laws of natural causes, truth is derived from nature and that natural desires or instincts dictate actions. Existentialism is a personal and unexplainable experience, people have their own free will and responsibility for themselves in a hostile, irrational universe. Existentialists have an angst about life they don’t know what to do with themselves. The movie’s main character believes that …show more content…

Henry loved his freedom of choice to do whatever he pleased and knowing that the decisions made would have no consequences in life. From the first time Henry met Lucy he could not keep her out of his mind, he sees her and immediately shifts his focus onto her, trying to get her to fall for him. Henry feels angst in his life as he knows he has no purpose, but only to search out some meaning for himself. He does this through his flings and then through his love with Lucy. The stress of the world is just too much for him, so he just avoids the big questions and focus on the here and now. We even see him want to go on an adventure in Alaska to search for answers and leave behind his anxiety with the world. Both Henry and Lucy feel that family and friends are important and provide a comfort in the world. Henry lifestyles transition from Naturalistic to existentialist clearly showing how man’s worldly actions have a direct correlation with their worldview. His shift is consistent with his worldview, as they need the purpose that both religion and flings gave him

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