The Solitary Rover: Niceties of Frankl’s Logotherapy in Vallee’s Wild

Abstract

The meaninglessness of existential philosophy was celebrated and was at its peak until the formulation of the psychotherapic theories by Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a Holocaust survivor, Viktor Emil Frankl.  Frankl introduced new psychoanalytic and psychotherapic terms into the realm of studies related to the complexities of human mind. It was in his seminal work, Man’s Search for Meaning (1946), that Frankl introduced the idea of Logotherapy, as a clinical as well as a psychological term. Frankl with his notion of logotherapy refuted the nihilistic aspects of existentialism and certain like philosophies.” Here, the protagonist, Cheryl Strayed, in Vallee’s Wild (2014) sets out for a journey to find out about herself and the ultimate meaning of her life. Cheryl, during her journey, leaves all of her material possessions and familial relations behind. Here, one may tend to see her  as an “existential “one but in a more wider sense, she is not celebrating the meaninglessness, rather she strives hard to find a meaning in her life to live on. This paper opens a new outlook towards this movie, especially towards the character of Cheryl Strayed.