SIMONE DE BEAUVOIR

(1908-1986)

French writer. Wife JP Sartre. Author of the novels "The Guest" (1943) "Mandarin" (1954), the book "The Second Sex" (1949), the story "pretty picture" (1966), an autobiographical trilogy (1958-1963) and other works. Made a significant contribution to the development of philosophical thought and the feminist movement of the XX century.

The name of Simone de Beauvoir, little is known to Russian readers, and if anyone is familiar with and, then, probably in connection with the work of French writer and existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre. Meanwhile, Simone de Beauvoir is one of the most prominent representatives of the literary world of his generation. The present furore in the intellectual circles of Europe and America has made her book "The Second Sex", which is a very controversial and scathing polemic on the situation of women in the modern world. This book, first published in 1949 and partly translated into English in 1953, is considered one of the most important works of the XX century of feminism.

Photo — «Simone De Beauvoir»

She became a true symbol of the sexual revolution of the 1960's.

Simone de Beauvoir was born in Paris. She was the first child in a family franchise, and George de Beauvoir. From an early age girl showed a freedom-loving and rebellious nature, protesting against the Catholic restrictions, which are stuck on friendly family of de Beauvoir. At age 19, Simon announced to his relatives: "I do not want my life to obey anyone's else's request, other than my own. "

George de Beauvoir was unable to provide any one of his daughters a dowry. Simon, this has led to enhanced learning. Soon a great student of the Sorbonne, received a master's degree and a successful career.

In mid-1920, at a party, Simone met Jean-Paul Sartre, who was later described in his first autobiography, "Memoirs of studious daughter. " "Comrade of the soul - to define it relates to the future of the famous writer - which I found all my passion. With him I can share anything. " This pair is really a "shared" their lives for 51 years until his death, Sartre in 1980.

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Except for a brief period during the Second World War and the annual six-month vacation in Rome, Simone de Beauvoir and Sartre lived in different apartments, meeting in the evening to discuss their ideas, as well as read and discuss one another's work. Their union, which both thought the perfect union of a man and a woman, violated the traditional notions about marriage and children and included by mutual agreement of the contract "contingent lovers. " Simone de Beauvoir once said: "We opened a special type of relationship with all its freedom, intimacy and openness. " However, Beauvoir and Sartre formed the center of the post-war French left-wing intellectuals and the existentialists, proclaimed the "bias" of writers of his time.

Until 1943 Beauvoir taught philosophy at several colleges in France and then she completely devoted herself to writing. Her first published novel, "She came to stay" (1943) describes a love triangle between the left intelligentsia, his old love and a young lover of the bride - an emotionally painful situation, experienced by Beauvoir in the early years of her relationship with Sartre.

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Other famous works of Simone de Beauvoir: "All men are mortal" and "Blood of the other" - one way or another devoted to the interpretation of the existential dilemma. In his works, the writer often turned to his own biographical events. So, based on the novel "Tangerine" put her affair with the American novelist Nelson Algrenom. The story is finely drawn portraits of Sartre, Albert Camus, and other French existentialists. For the story "The Mandarins" Simon has been awarded the prestigious Prix Konkort in 1954. Another work of Simone de Beauvoir, "Woman of destruction", combines three short stories about three women who are completely subordinate to fate.

Among the nonfiction works of Simone de Beauvoir is widely known for four autobiographies, as well as "Ethics and ambiguity" - a purely existential work that demonstrates commitment to freedom of choice and concordant with the great work of Sartre's Being and nothingness, "" Long March "- a study on developments in China," Growing up "- a monumental work on the attitude of society to the elderly in various cultures.

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But the global recognition of Beauvoir was due to philosophical work "The Second Sex. " In it Simon wrote: "Man is not born but rather becomes a woman. No biological or physiological, or economic fate does not determine the role of women in society, this role defines civilization as a whole, which creates a creature - a cross between a male and the eunuch, - which is called a woman. "

After the publication of this work, as one of a kind and very revolutionary, has received tremendous popularity, but was defeated by the harsh criticism. Beauvoir harsh statements about the relationships between the sexes have provoked attacks of the traditionalists. Recent argued that "The Second Sex" - the most pompous and pretentious work of writer that it dogmatically and pessimistic. Some critics felt that the views of Beauvoir humiliate the woman, as allegedly containing a hypothesis about the innate superiority of men. However, in the face of many feminist writer has found the hot groupies, who were the first in the works of Simone de Beauvoir saw their real crier, a talented exponent of idey women's equality.

Photo — «Simone De Beauvoir»

So far, the issues raised by Simone de Beauvoir, have the most relevance.

Together with Sartre Beauvoir produced several publications, participated in protest marches, demonstrations and other anti-government activities. She wrote manifestos, speeches, lectures, and articles defending the idea of independence, security, factory workers, permits abortions. In 1981 she published the memories of the past ten years the life of his great companion, "A Farewell to Sartre. " However, the shadow of the famous writer does not overshadow his own contribution to Simon in the development of philosophical thought and the feminist movement of the XX century.