Third Sex: Sartre and de Beauvoir: Sartre and de Beauvoir

Author: Huang Zhongjing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-05-01
Features: This couple was a world-class great writer and philosopher. Sartre's existential philosophy is an essential classic in the discussion of 20th-century philosophy; de Beauvoir's The Second Sex: Woman was hailed as the "Bible of Women's Liberation." What sparked widespread discussion in their wake was not only their outstanding contributions to human philosophy, nor simply because they were a couple, a famous couple, a very famous couple, but more so because their way of life was so unconventional to outsiders, even to ordinary mortals like you and me, it seemed almost unbelievable. They never announced their marriage but lived together for life, sharing a life for 51 years; though they lived together, they each maintained their own residences, independent spaces; they remained loyal to each other without deceit, while also granting each other complete independence and freedom; their love also experienced ups and downs, and they even had temporary lovers on the side, but this did not break their eternal bond; in his later years, Sartre lost his vision, and de Beauvoir tirelessly read new newspapers and books to him every day, ensuring his intellect never waned; during Sartre's final illness, de Beauvoir stayed by his bedside until his body was taken away; six years later, de Beauvoir passed away, and people opened Sartre's grave, placing her body beside his. This lifelong couple, who remained unmarried, were finally reunited in death.
This literary biography, titled The Third Sex: Sartre and de Beauvoir, is truly eye-opening—it is written by a Chinese scholar about Sartre and de Beauvoir. With vivid and delicate prose and a masterful, ever-shifting narrative, it faithfully records the unique life experiences and legendary romance of Sartre and de Beauvoir, guiding readers beyond the surface of their unconventional emotional approach to grasp the philosophical reflections of these two thinkers on love. Huang Zhongjing has studied Sartre for over 20 years, publishing six books, including A Biography of Sartre and Sartre's Sketches, among other works dedicated to the great philosopher. His deep understanding and thorough research form the foundation of this biography. To better comprehend the behavior of de Beauvoir and Sartre, Huang adopted the Chinese readers' familiar method of "knowing the person to understand the matter," placing their love within a broader historical context. As the author writes in the "Prologue": "This book is about them as individuals, but also about a whole—a seamless whole; at the same time, it is about our time. Their entire lives, including what is commonly referred to as their private life, were inextricably linked to their circumstances, narrating the history of humanity in the 20th century."
On the surface, Sartre and de Beauvoir came from vastly different backgrounds before meeting. One was an orphaned boy, raised by a stepmother in a home filled with feelings of being an outsider, while the other was a well-loved, disciplined girl from a financially comfortable family. Yet, a series of dramatic coincidences in life gradually forged a profound connection between them, leading to a fundamental alignment of their personalities and a deep understanding and in their hearts. This insight, rarely seen in previous works about their relationship, is presented with clarity and reason by the author of this book. It was precisely this sense of shared identity, especially in their understanding of gender relations, that allowed these two independent thinkers, who had grown up in different environments, to converge on the same path in life, leading to the feeling of finding "the other half" when they met at the école Normale Supérieure in Paris and the joy of discovering "their match." Soon after falling in love, they decided to enter into a "two-year agreement." This was a groundbreaking "oath of freedom and loyalty." In the initial two years, they came close to marriage, but their belief in granting each other eternal freedom led them to abandon the idea. The "two-year agreement" took the form of a 51-year commitment, becoming the framework of their lifelong companionship.
The book does not shy away from mentioning the other "accidental lovers" in Sartre's and de Beauvoir's lives. These accounts are not for sensationalism but are an important aspect of their unique relationship. From the perspective of the individuals themselves, their loyalty included their sexual independence and freedom from one another. Of course, there were conflicts and disagreements, but they were ultimately reconciled by their deep understanding and harmony, leading them to remain together and find their final harbor in life.
"The natural sex of humanity is sex; the historical discrimination against women is the second sex; by transcending both, Sartre and de Beauvoir, through their lifelong experiences and pursuits, created a new relationship between men and women—the third sex," the author explains in the "Preface." The entire biography unfolds like "a symphony of love, a hymn to friendship, an overture of loyalty and openness" (as described in the "Prologue"), stirring the soul. Sartre and de Beauvoir had no intention of setting a model for love or marriage, but they opened our minds to the diversity of gender relations. This perspective helps modern people find a new balance between responsibility and love, independence and possession, freedom and loyalty, thereby improving the quality of love and establishing harmonious, natural gender dynamics.
More than 20 years have passed since Sartre's death, and over 16 years since de Beauvoir left this world. Their love has captivated the world, sparking endless discussion. Often, we may not understand it, and perhaps Sartre and de Beauvoir never expected people to understand. However, Mr. Huang's biography helps us grasp much about Sartre and de Beauvoir, and even about life and love.