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Shevane Sonthar Lingam, Sunway College, MalaysiaAbstract
All the Light We Cannot See (2014), a novel by Anthony Doerr, is a Pulitzer Prize–winning work of fiction, awarded in 2015. The narrative deals with the moral dilemmas faced by its protagonist, Werner Pfennig. Werner Pfennig is an eighteen-year-old German orphan serving the Nazi regime. Scholarly studies on the text thus far portray Werner as a victim of circumstance, in navigating the harrowing wartime challenges on his own. However, this study argues that his actions are primarily driven by rational selfish motives. This study therefore examines the rational selfish acts of Werner, highlighting his choices and decisions in relation to his self-sacrifices. Following that, the discussion centers on his relationships with and treatment towards other characters within the text. The reading of the novel is enlightened through the concept of rational selfishness proposed by Peter Schwartz in his book, In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice is Unjust and Destructive (2015). The textual analysis of the selected text aims to contribute to the broader discussion of Doerr’s novel and war literature. Additionally, it explores the applicability of Schwartz’s framework to further the understanding and appreciation of literary works. The findings of the study reveal that Werner displays more irrational selfishness than rational selfishness. Moreover, even in instances where Werner displays no selfishness, they result in destructive consequences. In conclusion, the study highlights the moral dilemma experienced by the protagonist from the selected text, and the implications of his rational and irrational selfishness during the war.
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Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Literature
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Lingam S. (2026) Selfishness in Werner Pfennig From Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See (2014) ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 67-79) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.8
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.8
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