gives his own cyanide to two other terrified condemned men, then he accepts immolation alive in a furnace. In Malraux’s metaphoric use of the schoolyard, the nationalists (capitalists and imperialists) are in this former schoolyard to teach a lesson about the absolute certainty of futility for humans in death, while the communists are there to teach a lesson about the relative possibilities of meaningfulness and utility to humans, even in death.

Malraux's concise and vigorous style is interspersed with newspaper headlines and radio broadcasts, enhancing the story's dramatic effect and creating the illusion of reality. He often pairs a sequence of brief, energetic scenes, reminiscent of the flashback and flash-forward techniques used in film. Detailed depictions of events are followed by gradual fade-outs, then succeeded by more close-ups, followed by additional fade-outs and close-ups. This continual shift in focus serves to subordinate external events to the internal conflict. The emphasis transitions from historical to metaphysical, leading the reader to understand that the intense sociopolitical struggle Malraux describes is merely a reflection of the protagonist's inner conflict, who symbolizes Modern Man.

Malraux's portrayal of Chiang Kai-shek's violent split from the Communists immerses the reader in the chaos of social upheaval. As Malraux has often remarked, the Chinese Revolution serves as the backdrop for the novel rather than its main theme. Similar to the two novels that came before Man's Fate, the primary focus is metaphysical rather than societal. While the sociopolitical events in the story are crucial to Malraux's artistic vision—because, according to him, it is during such historical crises that individuals can rise above their existential loneliness and alienation—they are less significant compared to the internal struggles of the characters. Malraux describes this inner conflict as the "Pascalian aspect," characterized by a deep metaphysical pessimism. The novel's effect on the reader stems from its ambiguous perspective on the existential human condition. Throughout the story, the reader feels a tension between a hope rooted in human solidarity and the harsh truth that each person is ultimately isolated in an uncaring universe. Ultimately, Man's Fate rises above the storm of historical events it vividly portrays, seeking a new understanding of humanity, albeit a tragic one. Amidst the violent revolution, individuals experience an awakening that enables them to look beyond the apparent absurdity of life, face death with courage, and, through their collective fight for social justice, reinvent themselves.

Initially, Malraux was perceived as a "committed" author because his novels delve into significant sociopolitical events that have greatly shaped the Modern Era. It was believed that his intent was to promote global social revolution. However, a closer examination of his work reveals that Malraux is not aligned with the conventional "engage" writers, who aim to convey a specific ideological stance in their works. Instead, he is more akin to "dominated" writers like Dostoevsky and Faulkner, who use writing as a means to address their own existential issues through literary expression. Nietzsche and Freud significantly influenced Malraux's literary vision. Nietzsche is noted for his declaration of "the death of God" and his advocacy for the emergence of the New Man, while Freud contributed through his exploration of the subconscious, aspiring to foster self-determined, rational individuals.

Oswald Spengler was another key influence on Malraux. What Spengler articulated in The Decline of the West (1926-1928), Malraux vividly brings to life in his novels. Malraux's brilliance lies in his ability to transform the deep philosophical, psychological, and historical concepts of thinkers like Nietzsche, Freud, and Spengler into compelling drama. Through his artistic use of symbolic scenarios and characters that represent the twentieth century's "Every Man," Malraux invites readers to reflect on and analyze some of the major moral and metaphysical challenges humanity faces today.