Existential Nihilism Reflected in Carol Shields's The Stone Diaries (1993): An Existentialist Criticism

• Main Authors: Rahmah, Alit Desi (Author), , Dr. M. Thoyibi, M.S (Author), , Mauly Halwat Hikmat, Ph. D (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: 2014.
• Subjects: Thesis; NonPeerReviewed
• Online Access: Connect to this object online
• Notes: https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/1/COVER.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/3/CHAPTER_I.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/5/CHAPTER_II.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/6/CHAPTER_III.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/7/CHAPTER_IV.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/10/CHAPTER_V.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/11/BIBLIOGRAPHY.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/13/PUBLICATION_ARTICLE.pdf; https://eprints.ums.ac.id/27727/15/APPENDIX.pdf
• Keywords: LB Theory and practice of education

This paper displays existential nihilism in The Stone Diaries. The study asking firstly what the indicators of existential nihilism in the novel are, secondly why Carol Shield necessarily presents such issue in her novel. The object of this study is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. It uses Existentialist criticism. This study belongs to qualitative research. In this method there are two types of data source namely primary and secondary data source. The primary data source is the novel and the secondary data is other works or any information related to the study. Both data are collected through library research and analyzed by descriptive analysis. The result of the study shows that: in the novel Carol Shields illustrates a search for identity and meaning of life in which the major character experiences different existential situation and the necessity of making moral choice.