Meaning Of Life In Jake Murdoch's Under The Net

What is the meaning of life? The answer to this universal question varies and is heavily debated. For some, merely living and breathing in the world defines the meaning of life. On the other hand, life can contain no meaning at all in that it exists, but our role in the world has little to no meaning. In the traditional human perspective, our central focus and goal is to strive for happiness and to fulfill our function well. [Lecture] In the novel Under the Net, Murdoch emphasizes the theme of existence in truth and language in relation to others and one’s self.
In the words of Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialism is defined as the thesis that existence precedes essence. [Lecture] It focuses on the issue of existence. As humans, we desire happiness

and fulfillment in our function in that we act according to rational plans. According to Sartre, we have no essence or intrinsic function. There is nothing, not even seeking virtue or happiness, that constitutes what we are here for, therefore life has no inherent meaning. We are radically free with a field of opportunities for us to define and choose our lives in order for us to be true to ourselves.
In existentialism, the question of our purpose in life arises.

The protagonist, Jake, lacks purpose in his life. In different instances throughout the novel, Jake seems to lean towards a simpler path, lacks a sense of direction, and settles for convenience rather than facing reality. For example, he “translates Breteuil because it’s easy and because it sells like hot cakes in any language.” (pg. 20) Jake can accomplish so much more than he’s truly doing, such as pursuing a career as a writer instead of translating another writer’s books from French to English. He even admits to being “…talented, but lazy.” (pg. 21) As a result, there is an absence of significance in Jake’s life which explains why he constantly seeks for truth and begins to question what matters most to him in regards to fame, fortune, and love. Additionally, Jake lacks originality in that the only book he has written, The Silencer, is based off of a philosophical conversation with Hugo, an old friend and roommate. Although he feels guilty for taking Hugo’s ideas and compiling a book from them, Jake proves to the readers that he lives life as though it is a stage to solely pass through by being inconsiderate in regards to weighing money above his

friendship.
Another problem Jake encounters with existence is that of his relationship to Anna Quentin. At one point in time, he feels so deeply for Anna that he considers marriage, but is reluctant due to the complexity of how it is “already hard enough to tell the truth to oneself” even though he “hates solitude,” yet is “afraid of intimacy.” (pg. 31) However, he falls for her again, only to discover her love for Hugo. Jake comes to a conclusion that one cannot truly know someone and realizes that he should not acknowledge knowledge in that it disguises, for instance, the love Anna once had for him. Initially, he is certain that he and Anna have a continual love from the relationship they had, but he comes to an understanding that she no longer sees him that way, as he contemplates whether his “own reflection is as vividly shown” (pg. 191) to Anna or if it is a one-way street with him solely expressing his love for her. Martin Heidegger once said “I am thrown into the world.” In existentialism, the theme of alienation occurs when we feel at odds with ourselves. Since we are not in control, we feel isolated. Jake may feel this way in that he has no control of his love life. He cannot force Anna feel the way he does towards her. There are specific facets in the world that are limited; we are not in control of all aspects of life. However, we are free to choose to reject or embrace certain aspects that are thrown at us, also known as authenticity.
In a third-person perspective lies facticity in which certain situations are concrete and fixed that cannot be modified. [Lecture] Hugo believes that language is deceptive. We may say something particular , but it does not necessarily mean that what we say is what we are thinking. In Hugo’s perspective, “the whole language is a machine for making falsehoods.”(pg. 60) We cannot rely on mere words for truth, since “actions don’t lie, words always do.”(pg. 228) Also, the setup of the Riverside Miming Theatre metaphorically portrays Hugo’s standpoint, seeing that the acting is done in complete silence, as if language has been thrown out the window. With words, it can be unclear whether they contain the truth of reality. However, actions are somewhat permanent because what is done is done. Although there are fixed matters, such as the past, that cannot be altered, one thing that can change is our values. We are “self-interpreting animals” that can choose what matters to us for ourselves without letting stereotypes or our past define our character. [Lecture]
At times, we are forced to confront the meaninglessness of existence. We seek meaning, but do not succeed in finding it because rather than searching for it, we define the meaning of our own existence. [Lecture] There are times we don’t embrace our own choices as we’re constantly trying to define our future. The two key factors to remember are freedom and responsibility. We must recognize our own freedom and take control. However, we hold ourselves accountable for the outcomes of our choices and actions. With everything that happens to us, we have chosen to let it affect us, but we will not let it define us.