A Structuralist Analysis of Jean-Paul Sartre’s "The Flies"

Abstract

Structuralism that began to be active in the 1950’s is the approach to define the relationship between the part and the whole. This article provides the phases of linguistics that form the source of structuralism, theory and applications of structuralism and its terminology. This article mainly deals with a structuralist analysis of Jean-Paul Sartre’s "The Flies". The surface structure of The Flies mirrors Sartre’s conception of the structure of freedom. In order to recognize one’s freedom, one must let go of the past like in Act I, make a choice like in Act II Scene I, act on it like in Act II Scene II, and then take its responsibility like in Act III. The surface meaning of the play is that human must accept the past for what it was, for the real events that they did or didn’t do, what they wished and desired and hated. Only then can they choose how the past will decide their future. Only those people who choose, act on it, and accept its responsibility can be free. Bemoaning one’s existence and leaving it to the control of others removes freedom and responsibility. As for the deep structure of the play, its harmony operates on binary opposition between Orestes and Electra. As Orestes is a ‘being as a subject’ and free, he looks towards his future; however, as Electra is a ‘being as an object’ and not free, she sticks into the past. Its melody operates on the fixed cycle of the story of committing a sin and feeling guilt and remorse. The play ends but its melody continues because Electra will carry the darkness of the Furies with her in the form of guilt and remorse forever though they have physically left her alone. In terms of the deep meaning of the play, Orestes’s mission becomes an effort to show the Argives who are manipulated by external forces that they do not have to act like “guilty people” by showing them that they are already free - that they have always been free because they are human beings. Despite being physically confined, one has the freedom of mind which cannot be taken away to disobey external forces. No one has power over you until you give him or her that power.