Development and rethinking of the theory of existentialism in David Lodge’s “Therapy”

The work is an analysis of David Lodge’s novel “Therapy” from the point of view of the philosophy of early existentialism, which is the plot basis of the work. The plot of the novel is considered as the realization of the model of spiritual development proposed by S. Kierkegaard in 1843: the biography of the main character is interpreted by us as passing through the aesthetic, ethical, and spiritual stages of personality development. The article examines the main parallels drawn by the author between the hero and the Danish philosopher and also concludes that in the religious aspect, the British author departs from Kierkegaard’s theory, rethinking the role of religion from the standpoint of the end of his era. The theme of love has also been rethought: the heroes of the Lodge are able to enjoy it not only in their memories, unlike the characters of Kierkegaard. Nevertheless, Lodge continues Kierkegaard’s idea that love and faith as manifestations of the same phenomenon (passion) give meaning to life and heal from a spiritual crisis. The study of the novel proves that, according to Lodge, pessimistic existentialism ceases to be relevant at the end of the XX century, so for the novel “Therapy” the author turns to the origins of the theory of existentialism and builds the work as a kind of dialogue with the philosopher of the past.