Nihilism in the Sahara: Exploring the Moresbys’ Physical and Psychological Itineraries in Paul Bowles’ The Sheltering Sky

Paul Bowles's The Sheltering Sky is an existential narrative that explores both a physical and psychological journey into the North African Sahara desert and the human psyche. It portrays the intertwined itineraries of the protagonists, Port and Kit Moresby, as they traverse the desolate landscape and navigate their tumultuous inner worlds. The couple, joined by their friend Tunner, leaves Western civilization hoping to mend their fractured marriage. Their journey, however, turns into a nightmarish odyssey of alienation and despair. The desolate desert mirrors their psychological descent into nihilism, stripping them of their cultural identities and forcing them to confront their existential anxieties. Drawing on Sartre's existentialism, this paper delves into themes of nothingness and absurdity, exploring a harrowing yet profound journey of self-discovery.