On Alice Munro’s Refl ections upon Human Existence in Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

Abstract

The collection of short stories, Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, expresses intensively Alice Munro’s
refl ections upon human existence by discussing some Existential themes, such as the contingency of being, freedom, and the other. The
contingency of being not only makes people suffer from the absurdity of the world and feel frustrated, but also gives them the chance
to show their authentic and gorgeous existence; individual freedom is intrinsically limited, but he can obtain self-transcendent freedom
by internalizing his responsibility, consoling himself and restraining himself; the other may clash with the self because each has its own
consciousness, but the harmonious coexistence of the two can be achieved by understanding and respecting their intersubjective relationship.
The dialectical thinking about human existence in the collection shows realistic value.