All Men Are Mortal

Summary

In the novel «All Men Are Mortal», Simone de Beauvoir masterfully weaves together the timeless questions of existence and the transience of human life. At the heart of the story is the enigmatic Raimon Fosca, a man granted immortality. His encounter with Regina, an actress hungry for fame and recognition, becomes the starting point for a profound philosophical dialogue about the meaning of existence, love, and loneliness. Through the lens of Fosca’s centuries-old memories, the reader witnesses a sweeping panorama of European history, filled with passions, wars, disappointments, and hopes. Beauvoir explores how eternal life becomes an unbearable burden, while mortality is the source of true value in every moment. The novel is permeated with reflections on freedom, responsibility, and the inevitability of the end, inviting us to ponder what it truly means to be alive.