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Albert Camus' the Stranger
Albert Camus' "The Stranger" (L'Etranger) is a story of how the protagonist Meursault is eventually condemned to die because he would not conform to what society expected of him. Meursault throughout the novel remains is own person: he reacts to situations exactly the way he wants to. His reactions are uncompromising even in the face of opposition and danger. Society expects us to behave within the bounds of specific norms. Society, especially in Meursault's case) left no room for individualism. Camus' novel is a testament to individuality as opposed to working for the greater good of society. Meursault is condemned because he is a non-conformist.
Meursault's character is one which does not worry about expressing emotion. Eventually society uses this part of his character against him. Meursault, confronted with the death of his mother does not react by being outwardly distraught. He does feel sadness, but he continues with his life. He even goes out on date with a former colleague. This is not to say Meursault lacks emotion. Society...
Meursault cannot accept this social obligation imposed upon his life; he is an outsider to the society in which he lives.
Further representative of Meursault's adamancy to concern himself with expressing emotion is his relationship with Marie. When inquired about marriage, Meursault indifferently responds that he would if "she wanted to." As traditionally viewed in society, marriage is a bond of love and affection; yet Meursault is completely indifference to the notion of romance, love or sharing. He is apathetic to the needs of the woman who loves him.
Meursault represents a fundamental truth (though unusual and unique) that true emotion comes from within and does not need public recognition. This is why Meursault is a true stranger. Society is threatened by this new way of thinking and so Meursault is cast on the outside. During the course of events involving Marie and a friend, Raymond, in a retroactive act of self-defense, Meursault shoots an Arab to death. When he is imprisoned, the…
Albert Camus' influential novel, the Stranger, a great work of existentialism, examines the absurdity of life and indifference of the world. This paper provides a summary of the novel, and outlines some of the novel's main themes. The novel's protagoinist, Meursault, is a distanced and indifferent young man. He does not believe in God, and lives his life with seemingly sensuous abandon. After Meursault is caught up in the life of
Stranger by Albert Camus The main character, Meursault, mother dies in the book, and he travels to her funeral. As he sit by the coffin, he displayed virtually no emotion or offers any indication of grief. The next day, he meets an old coworker has is named Marie. They go out on a date to a diner and then a movie and shortly after a relationship forms. Later these two individuals
It is true that Grand changes over the book. He finds within himself the words to express himself and knows how he would act differently given the chance. He is redeemed at the end when he overcomes illness. However, it appears that the individuals who are the greatest heroes in real life are those who change the most when confronted with adversity. This is because they are the ones who
Yet, even Tarrou must fall to the plague inevitably. Camus as much as says that while Tarrou's ideals may be beautiful, they are not ultimately the truth: there is no moksha for Tarrou -- only death. Does absurdism expect that one's best course of action is to interact with life at a slight remove -- as Rieux does? No definite answer can be given. Cottard, however, is definitely not the
In fact, the only time he shows anger in the story is near the end, when a chaplain visits him in his cell and he loses his patience with his preaching and questions. He is sentenced to die, and the only thing he hopes for is a big crowd at his execution, because that will give his life some closure and meaning. It is a sad commentary about an
2, 4:16). Flesh and spirit, accordingly, work together to help the man serve God, and are both are good. In this way, it is not just soul that deserves to return at the end of days but body too and this is what Meursault along with many others are unaware of. That Christianity is not just about hankering of immortality of the soul and does not separate itself to