Unamuno's Tragic Sense of Life

Miguel de Unamuno’s “The Tragic Sense of Life” explores the deep human longing for permanence and meaning amidst the awareness of mortality and life's uncertainties. He argues that humans possess a spiritual longing for eternity, yet are bound by the temporary, mortal world. This clash creates a tragic tension—our desire for everlasting significance conflicts with life's transience. Unamuno believes embracing this paradox, accepting life's uncertainties while maintaining hope and faith, is essential to genuinely experiencing the human condition. Essentially, our awareness of life's fragility deepens our pursuit of meaning, acknowledging that life is both fleeting and profoundly valuable.