The problem of existential choice in William Somerset Maugham’s works (based on the material of the short story “The unconquered”)

The article thoroughly examines the problem of choice from the standpoint of the philosophy of existentialism, morality and psychology and analyzes the definitions proposed by various researchers of this issue. A choice is understood as making a decision that can affect further existence, while a decision can be made under the influence of various factors that put pressure on an individual when considering a decision. One of these factors is public opinion which is able to impose values engrained in peoples’ heads that are most favorable for the functioning of society. Another factor is certain behaviors that are instilled in an individual in childhood when communicating with parents, whose relationship becomes a specific pattern of behavior that is later used by the individual to relieve themselves of responsibility for the choice made. At the same time, the reason for this behavior may be found in insufficient independence and possible fear of harming oneself and close ones. The article provides examples of literary works in which the main characters find themselves in decision-making situations and evaluates the reasons for making this or that choice. In particular, the author analyzes a short story of the English writer William Somerset Maugham entitled “The Unconquered”, in which the main heroine faces a decision-making situation.