Existentialism in Literature: Kafka, Dostoevsky, Hesse

Presentation by Robert C. Solomon Existentialism began not in philosophy but primarily in literature - Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground and Kafka's Metamorphosis along with Hesse's Steppenwolf were the clearest and earliest expositions of existentialist themes and ideas. In this presentation, Solomon walks us through Dostoevsky's The Idiot, selections from Kafka, and finally to Hermann Hesse's "Magic Theater" in Steppenwolf. Enjoy.