Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

From William to the Man in Black: Sartrean Existentialism and the Power of Freedom

Research & Scholarship: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

<div class="line" id="line-7"> In one of Season 1&rsquo;s biggest reveals, Westworld viewers learn that the timid and mild&hyphen;mannered William is the younger version of the violent, sinister, mission&hyphen;driven Man in Black. It is hard to believe that the reserved, hesitant young man we meet in the pilot is the same person as the vicious, unmerciful rogue who kills and abuses androids like they&rsquo;re mere rodents or flies. Throughout the season viewers witness the key events that lead to this transformation and the birth of a new character, or at least a character that is unrecognizable in relation to his former self. Viewers are left to ponder whether the Man in Black was William&rsquo;s &ldquo;true self&rdquo; all along, or whether the events William</div>
Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationWestworld and Philosophy: If You Go Looking for the Truth, Get the Whole Thing
StatePublished - Apr 2018

Disciplines

  • American Popular Culture
  • Philosophy

Cite this