THOMAS WOLFE REIMAGINED: EXISTENTIAL THEMES AND MOTIFS IN HIS WORKS

Abstract

There is considerable dispute over Thomas Wolfe’s place in the context of American literature. Many consider his autobiographical prose shallow and his genius superficial, while others think he is a worthy contender for the title of the Next Great American Novelist. In the current study, we will examine his life and journey to becoming an author, and how he was perceived by his peers and readers. One thing that cannot be denied is Wolfe’s love for life and the individual, his alienation and loneliness, and his constant search for truth and experience, which are recurring themes in the philosophy of existentialism. In this context, we will make a quick overview of the existentialist themes found in his writings.