Stranding

Thesis: Is Nihilism a threat to our lives or it is an opportunity for creating meaning

In the Neverending Story, nihilism is represented by a singular crisis but appears in different forms throughout a person’s life; the author, Michael Ende, tries to convey his message regarding that nihilism is not a threat to our life but an opportunity to our lives, which offers his readers a perspective on nihilism.

Traditionally:

Give a brief definition of Nihilism: the essence of Nihilism that people are familiar with is that there is no intrinsic value or meaning of life. For example, a person’s existence is like a sand grain on a dune that is so small to make any changes for the totality. 

Youth:

The First Nihilism: This is the fear that Atreyu is afraid of when he begins his journey of saving the childlike empress. In this scenario Nihilism is  represented as Nothing. Since nobody knows what’s behind the nothing and it keeps devouring the Fantastica, this Nihilism is indicating the fear of the unknown and symbolizing the youth’s confusion because they have no clue of what that is but they are clung to the goal set by their mentors to find their ways out. 

(This part means finding the identity of oneself and understanding who you really are)

Draw connections to the article, the Germany Sexual Revolution

Adult:

The Second Nihilism: When the Amulet gave Basitan the ultimate power to do anything he can, Bastian eventually lost his desires and his memories. In other words, when a person comes to have the power to make things happen and come to reality, he/she would no longer believe or have wills for themselves because the goals are achieved. However, this power also draws a person to endless loneliness due to the abuse of power. In other words, the power, as the double-edged sword, functions its negative side and make a person to eventually lose oneself

(The power makes a person lose direction and eventually lose his way and his original contention at the very beginning.)

Draw connections to the Will to Power

Elder

The Third Nihilism: The final Nihilism is the desperation of losing. When Atreyu met Morla, Morla was nihilistic about the world because she has been living through centuries and she has witnessed the death and leaving of her surroundings. Since she is obsessed with the past and unwilling to accept the new, she eventually builds walls around her heart, which establish the swamp that repels everyone coming to see her and encounter her.

(Make changes about yourself)

1. Bastian “imitates” Atreyu’s desire and purpose: saving Fantastica and the Childlike Empress.
2. Atreyu knows Bastian’s destiny must be fulfilled in the human world, so he wants Bastian to find out how to return home.

Bastian chooses to see Atreyu as his rival, so he resists Atreyu’s desire. Bastian chooses to stay in Fantastica and wield power instead of seeking his new purpose (which ultimately proves to be loving his father).

Professor Lee's comments on changes:

Atreyu's challenge is to trust and obey the Childlike Empress's authority.... The challenge is also to resist freezing or despairing in the face of physical threat (nihilistic destruction).

Bastian's challenge is to wield authority/power justly, and without losing his soul/self. This corresponds to challenges one faces later in one's life, compared to Atreyu's, which correspond to challenges faced in youth.