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Nobel Prize for Literature

Kamál (Perfection), 7 ‘Ilm (Knowledge) 175 B.E. - Monday, October 22, 2018

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In 1964 today, Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre won the Nobel Prize for Literature and turned it down. Make up a reason why.

I have no idea why Mr. Sartre turned down the Nobel Prize for Literature; I suspect it may have had something to do with his political beliefs. Other, logical, reason could be he didn't want the prize, or he was, somewhat, modest when it came to his own writing and felt that the prize suggested he had reach the pinnacle of his literary career. He didn't give a reason, which is his business. Each writer has their own reasons for accepting or rejecting an important literary prize.

Since he didn't give a reason, it doesn't matter why he rejected it. In order, for me to write a coherent reason, I would have to do more research on the gentleman, his family, his family's belief system, his life experiences, his belief systems, and how his beliefs changed over the years. All of these things, either subtly or overtly, play a roll in the choices we make everyday. All of these things, in someway, affects an author's writings. Without knowing, every detail about an author's life (which is impossible) the reason an author accepts or rejects a prize is never obvious.

Since I haven't read enough of Mr. Sartre's words to hazard a guess, I'm leaving that to someone else. His biographer, if there is one, would probably be able to come to a logical conclusion on Mr. Sartre's reasons for turning down the prize.