Between Light and Darkness: An Analysis of Evil, Anguish and Faith in the Works of Ernesto Sabato

This dissertation explores the profound themes of evil, existential anguish, and faith in the narrative works of Argentine author Ernesto Sábato. Focusing on his trilogy—El túnel, Sobre héroes y tumbas, and Abaddón el exterminador—this study delves into the recurring motifs of violence, despair, and the metaphysical struggles faced by Sábato’s protagonists. The research presents a thematic analysis grounded in existential philosophy, religious studies, and psychoanalysis, engaging with critical theories such as Rudolf Otto’s Mysterium Tremendum and Mysterium Fascinans, as well as René Girard’s mimetic theory of desire and sacrifice. By examining the psychological and spiritual dimensions of Sábato’s characters, particularly their encounters with the numinous and the supernatural, this dissertation demonstrates how Sábato portrays the human condition as a constant tension between transcendence and destruction. Additionally, the work situates Sábato’s novels within the broader literary tradition of existentialism, drawing parallels to the works of Sartre, Camus, and Dostoevsky, while emphasizing Sábato’s unique synthesis of metaphysical and psychological concerns. Ultimately, this thesis aims to uncover how Sábato’s exploration of darkness and redemption reflects his broader philosophical inquiry into the nature of human suffering and the possibility of salvation in an increasingly secular world.