Existentialism is a concept that became popular during the second

World War in France, and just after it. French playrights have often used

the stage to express their views, and these views came to surface even

during a Nazi occupation. Bernard Shaw got his play "Saint Joan" past the

German censors because it appeared to be very Anti-British. French

audiences however immediately understood the real meaning of the play, and

replaced the British with the Germans. Those sorts of "hidden meanings"

were common throughout the period so that plays would be able to pass

censorship.

Existentialism proposes that man is full of anxiety and despare

with no meaning in his life, just simply existing, until he made decisive

choice about his own future. That is the way to achieve dignity as a human

being. Existentialists felt that adopting a social or political cause was...