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The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer rejected rationalism in creating willoriented metaphysics. In The World as Will and Representation, he points out that the will, a collective form of emotions, functions as a force of the represented world. This paper aims to interpret the sexual desire of female characters who get into illicit liaisons despite their gentle spouses by analyzing three works-a short story The Chrysanthemums (Steinbeck, 1995), an Italian film Cosa voglio di piu (Soldini, 2010) and a French film Le Secret (Wagon, 2000). It is found that according to Schopenhauer’s will-to-live the reason forms an external self while the will forms an internal one. In The Chrysanthemums, Elisa feels strong emotions towards a traveling pot mender because of his interest in her flowers and his freewheeling lifestyle. In Cosa voglio di piu, Anna finds potential love in a married man wandering between his family and love. Lastly, in Le Secret, Marie confirms her idea of her real self through a black American dancer whose lifestyle is different from that of her own past life. According to Schopenhauer, the will is seen to preface reason, but should be controlled by human effort, not through the marriage system. |
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