THE LIMITS OF AUTHENTICITY: ANTON CHIGURH’S EXISTENTIAL PATH

This paper examines the psychological portrait of Anton Chigurh, the antagonist of McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men, through the lens of existentialism. Chigurh’s actions and worldview reveal his pursuit of authentic existence. The antagonist rejects societal norms in favour of his own principles and convictions. His fatalistic perception of the world underscores a radical belief in chance and necessity, which he interprets as expressions of an impersonal moral order. The paper argues that Chigurh’s unwavering adherence to his self-imposed code embodies a distorted form of existential authenticity, as his reliance on violence prevents him from achieving genuine freedom and authentic existence.