The Complete Absence Of Purpose And Absurdism - By Yara Munfaradi

Written By: Yara Munfaradi

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In a thought-provoking essay titled "The Complete Absence Of Purpose And Absurdism," Yara Munfaradi delves into existential themes that challenge the human pursuit of meaning. This submission is part of the esteemed Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, a platform that celebrates diverse expressions in creative writing. Yara's work examines the concept of absurdism, drawing inspiration from the philosophical insights of Albert Camus.

About the Work

Yara Munfaradi's essay offers a reflective exploration of absurdism, a philosophical doctrine that questions the human need for purpose against life's inherent meaninglessness. Through introspective prose, Yara articulates the struggle with societal expectations and the personal journey towards embracing life's neutrality. The essay balances existential inquiry with a nuanced understanding of emotional authenticity, inviting readers to reconsider their relationship with purpose and productivity.

The Complete Absence Of Purpose And Absurdism

Original Submission by Yara Munfaradi

YARA MUNFARADI

The Complete Absence Of Purpose And Absurdism

"The absurd is born of this confrontation between the human need and the unreasonable silence of the world." - Albert Camus

The concept of absurdism is one that has begun to extinguish my persistent need to belong to some kind of meaning, identity or feeling. Recently, I’ve found existence unbearable; merely being aware of other people’s lives, accomplishments, or joy has reminded me of the gaping hole where my fulfillment is supposed to be. Camus’ theory of absurdism — that the human desire to have purpose conflicts with the fact that life is inherently meaningless and indifferent — has helped in anchoring me to the simple truth that my dissatisfaction is perceived, self-inflicted and actually does not need to be solved.

We are on a constant, fervent quest for entertainment, hobbies, travel, some kind of occupation to distract us from the incessant silence that we exist in. Self-help authors line shelves and their pockets with some regurgitated way of finding and keeping happiness, podcasters upload their supposedly epiphanic conversations, we repost reductive quotes about how blessed we are and how grateful we should be — so many claim to have the key, while secretly banging on a locked door.

It would be so much easier to accept that existence is pointless and that we have so much ugliness that we don’t let surface, or at least acknowledge properly. I felt cheated, angry, envious, and contemptuous on a daily basis and I constantly felt the need to bury it with this contorted, positive spirituality that teaches us to discard negative thoughts to experience good things; and when I did actually sit with those feelings, I felt like I should be repelling it. Am I wasting time that could be spent manifesting good? Am I making myself feel all this unpleasantness? Am I doing all I can? Why can’t I be more efficient?

It made me feel like a faulty machine, and I questioned where that came from. Society today, in all its capitalistic glory, urges people to look for purpose and uses their ability to monetise it as a metric for their success. This breeds a hyper-attentive nature to one’s own productivity, exacerbated when we see others gaining and experiencing more, even in areas unrelated to career and finances. It turns your frustration inward, rather than at the system. So, we refuse to relent in our endless pursuit of meaning and success.

I believe that you have to hit a wall so concrete and derailing to start embracing the inherent neutrality of life. We’ve cemented ourselves in this belief that if we aren’t doing, or fixing, we aren’t gaining anything. But you don’t have meaning. Things, tangible or not, don’t either — and that can only mean that you aren’t fated to any one outcome. You can lose, grieve, grieve again, and have the human experience without it meaning anything about what’s to come. It could be good, but when living through the lens of absurdism, you aren’t holding your breath, waiting.

The mundanity of life becomes more tolerable, the unquenchable boredom dilutes slightly, you don’t feel the need to seek out mental stimulation and entertainment as much, because everything is nothing. You find more time to create, rather than consume, because the voice pressing and nagging you to occupy a void quiets.

Absurdism is initially perceived to be depressing and hopeless, but that’s an entirely gross misperception about what it encourages. It allows you more space to enrich yourself, to expand your relationship with your emotions, the universe and your expectations of life, rather than fulfil the demands of a society that requires you to give and give with little return. Albert Camus was onto something.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar serves as a beacon for artistic expression across the globe. It brings together writers, poets, and essayists to share their unique perspectives and showcase their literary talents. This prestigious event highlights the importance of creative exploration and provides a platform for voices that resonate with universal themes, fostering a community of creativity and innovation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Yara Munfaradi for contributing "The Complete Absence Of Purpose And Absurdism" to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Your insightful exploration of existential themes enriches the discourse on absurdism and purpose. We look forward to seeing how your work continues to inspire and provoke thought within the literary community.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.