The Last Man: An Existential Comedy

So you wake up in the morning, and you open your eyes and say, “Today is a normal day. I’ll do the same things any other person would: drink coffee, complain about traffic, and look past the neighbors’ stares.” But then you sense that something is off: silence. Yes, complete silence. No cars, no noise, not even that neighbor who always sings in the shower at 7 a.m. You go outside, roam the neighborhood, and realize something is weirdly off: men! Yes, men! They’re all gone, and there are no men on Earth but one. What will you do? How are you going to cope with this new world? So let’s go to a funny one because, in an imaginary world, you become the last male that remains on this planet.

The Initial Shock and Discovery

Your initial reaction will be shock, of course. You can ask, “Where and what happened to all the people? Is this a dream? Or was it that I watched I Am Legend one too many times?” You’ll go outside and walk the streets, and the cars are parked and the shops are shut, and all you hear is the wind whistling between the tall buildings. You’ll scream at the top of your lungs, “Is anybody here?” But the only answer you’ll get back is the sound of your own voice.

After days of traipsing and poking, you might notice that you’re, indeed, the last man standing. The women are still here, but all the men are gone. You’re going to wonder, “How did this happen?" Was there a secret meeting of men to flee to Mars without telling me? Or is this a cosmic joke to torment me?” But there won’t be answers to the questions—at least not yet. You’ll need to adjust to this new reality.

The Men Have All Vanished

A world without men would be a drastically different world. There would be no wars of note between nations, for history states that the majority of world wars were led by men. The aggressiveness of competition would end, and life would be a lot calmer. But at the same time, humanity would encounter new hurdles. Who is going to do the heavy lifting? Who would work in the mines, construction sites, or heavy industries? And men, will they adapt to these new roles?

As the last man, it will be your life, a complicated combination of responsibility and freedom. On the one hand, you’re going to feel like the center of the universe since you’re the only one who can do some of the work that’s traditionally been male. On the other hand, you’ll carry the burden of responsibility, as all the other humans will view you as the embodiment of masculinity and the last hope for the continuance of the human species.

Social and Psychological Challenge

You’re going to deal with gigantic social and psychological stakes. How will you cope with women who view you as their only hope to continue humanity? Does your love life become a complicated mess? Or isolate yourself to escape the pressure?”

Your life will be scrutinized under a microscope. Every single action, every utterance, will be measured and measured again. You are going to feel tremendous pressure because you will be the paragon of manhood in a world without men. Or will you give in to this pressure? Or will you manage to balance your life with your new responsibilities?

The Search for Meaning

In this male-less jahannum, you’ll be looking for a fresh sense of purpose. What do you do in this new world? Are you merely a recliner for the perpetuation of humanity? Or can you be something more? You will find yourself wondering about the nature of masculinity and the role of men in human history.

Maybe you’ll begin to pen your memoirs, attempting to capture this extraordinary experience. Perhaps you’ll travel the globe to glimpse what life is like in various cultures. Or maybe you’ll be wondering some big philosophical thoughts: What is the place of gender in building civilization? Humanity cannot survive with only one gender.

Relationships and Love

Romance will be one of your main challenges in a world without men. How are you going to handle the women who will want to get close to you? Are you ever going to be able to love in this way? Or will you sense that relationships have become merely a means to a higher end—the survival of the human race?

You’ll be in hard situations. You may fall in love with a woman, but you’ll feel that the love is conditional. You may wonder, “Does she love me for what I am, or because I’m the last man standing?” These questions will linger and render romantic relationships all the more complex.

The Uncertain Future

What about the future? Could the human race reproduce if it had but one gender? Will technology advance to make up for the lack of men? Maybe you’ll be part of a massive scientific project to clone men or create technologies that allow women to reproduce without men.

Ultimately, you’ll be confronted with difficult choices. Will you become the last man standing, taking the mantle to save the human race? Or will you choose to live your life as you choose, shunning the demand of the oppression of this new state of being?

The Last Man is a Symbol: Conclusion

Ultimately, the story of the last man on Earth will be about more than the plight of one man. It will be a story of what it means to be a man, the role of gender in the formation of civilization, and the trials of humanity under unforeseen pressure. It will be a tale of seeking meaning on the one hand and the tension between freedom and responsibility on the other.

Maybe you will come to understand that masculinity is not only biological but also a set of values and principles any person, gender aside, can aspire to. And perhaps you will discover that a world without men is not the end but the opening of a new chapter in human history.

In the end, you will be the last man, the last man standing, but also the first man in a new world. A world without men, but a world loaded with possibilities and challenges. A world you’ll be the hero of, whether you want to be or not.

Imagine if you were that man. What would you do?