...albert camus does a great magnificant job in the stranger developing the chaaracter of mersault by using reptition and basic words to show just how robotic mersault is in this story. the style and way mersault decides whether he likes something or not is so basic as he says it himself and is extremely blunt with it. furthermore albert camus shows how emotionless mersault is by showing little to no importance on his mom dying and no cares about marriage or murder which further develops mersaults character as a crazy sociopath. in addition to his emotionless response to the death of his mother he also is drawn as a ruthless killer when he shoots the arab four more times after the one kill shot and says how it was like knocking on a door of unhappiness...
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...L’Etranger in 1942, Albert Camus’ The Outsider addresses the constrictive nature of society and what happens when an individual tries to break free from the conformity forced upon him by staying true to himself, and following his own ideal of absolute truth and sincerity in every action. Propelled more by the philosophy of existentialism and the notion of the absurd than plot and characters, Camus’ novel raises many questions about life, and answers them in a final chilling climax. The plot of The Outsider revolves around a central act of unmeditated violence on a beach, proving that “the darkest moments can happen in the brightest sunlight”. Meursault, Camus’ protagonist, leads a simple life working as an office clerk in Algiers. He lives as a bachelor, who, as we learn from the first paragraph, has just lost his mother and is preparing to leave for the seaside town of Morengo where she lived in an old-people’s home. The rest of the first section of the novel reads as a diary of Meursault’s life until he murders an Arab whilst away for the weekend with some friends. Part Two deals with the time after Meursault’s arrest for the crime, including his court case in which he is condemned more for not grieving at his mother’s funeral than the actual count of homicide brought against him. It has been said that the plot takes a secondary role in The Outsider to Camus’ expression of his views on existentialism and the absurd. In the character of Meursault, Camus tells the story...
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...the French thinker, novelist, essayist, journalist Albert Camus. The Nobel Prize in 1957 for literature confirmed the status of the writer. Famous works of Albert Kamyu- novel-parable "The Plague". The novel is told in the literal sense of the terrible plague in one of the cities of French North Africa, and in the Anti-allegorical European resistance movement against fascism. The main purpose of "Plague" is a struggle against all evil in general. For residents of Europe participated in the Resistance was more a matter of honor and conscience. Therefore, one of the main problems of the novel is the problem of choosing between indifference and conformism, on the one hand, and a desperate desire for freedom, osvobozhdeniyu- other. The novel "The Plague" is made in the form of a chronicle. The author...
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...What does Mersault mean by the following: “Mother used to say that you’re never altogether unhappy. And lying there in my prison when the sky turned red and a new day slid into my cell, I’d agree with her. Because I could have just as easily heard footsteps and my heart could have burst.” (The Outsider, p.109). Discuss. In Albert Camus’ The Outsider, the cental protagonist Mersault is able to form a relationship with the reader, pushing them to question their own place in society and look at their lives from a very existential point of view, without seeming to make a direct connection to them. Mersault is very much an outsider (hence the title), unable to accept pre-determined so called socially norms and refuses to conform to anybody else’s standards of right and wrong, or good and bad, than his own. Richard H. Akeroyd remarks that, ‘Mersault may be lazy, indifferent, amoral in his outlook but he is completely honest’ (Akeroyd p33). The above statement (essay question) is a clear demonstration of Mersault’s vague but certain voice carries readers through the novel. Although at the time of this contemplation Mersault faces what many men would consider the lowest possible point of their life, Mersault remains almost subjective in his thoughts and feelings of his own life and where it is headed. Lazere adds, ‘Nor can he understand why anyone should want to judge him’, (Lazere p.33). One of the concepts that seem to have an...
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...Albert Camus Biography Albert Camus was born November 7, 1913, and reared in Algeria, a country exposed to the blistering African sun and the plain by the Mediterranean sea. These roots — the sun and the sea — have spread into all of Camus' writings — the novels, the plays, and the essays. They are a part of his lyricism, his symbolism, and his values. The universe, it seems from his early notebook (Noces), was mother, father, and lover for the young Camus, and from the first, Camus was aware of the paradoxical aspects of his natural world. The sensual free pleasure of swimming and hiking was in continuous contrast to the bare stony earth that made living a matter of poverty and destitution. He was early aware of the absurd condition of humanity's being totally alone in a resplendent universe. This concept is Camus' equivalent of "In the beginning . . ." With this truth, all of his writings sound revolt, for he refused to be deceived by social, religious, or individual submissions that ignored or defied the irreducible truth that humanity alone is responsible for itself, its meaning, and its measure. Camus' writings are a testament to a continuing belief in humanity's exiled but noble condition. Lucien Camus, Albert's father, was killed in 1914, during World War I's Battle of the Marne, and the year-old child was reared by his deaf mother. She had little money and was apparently a rather joyless and boring companion for her son. It is little wonder that he spent much of his...
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...The Stranger written by Albert Camus, poses main character, Meursault as an individual whose persona and attitude go against society's norms, which impact how he is viewed from other characters. His view of living an existential life, portraying limited emotions based on his actions, and his overall personality of his interactions add on to his character, causing him to act in a way that readers and society fits unredeemable. Camus' use of narrator point of view and vivid imagery emphasize how Meursault as a person unfolds, giving readers a glimpse into the mind of a person who has a passive internal thinking process and how it can heavily effect the outside world. This comes to portray how societal standards can influence how one reacts to...
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...After wrapping up the first chapter of Albert Camus’ The Stranger, I find myself questioning the heart of man. The opening lines stated “Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure” (Camus 4). Reading about a man who is not affected by the death of his own mother is quite sickening. The opening scenes of the novel seem quite morbid and I am nervous to continue reading. Meursault seems like a guy that has mental problems and could possibly be very dangerous. Potential conflicts in this novel seem to be quite obvious. Meursault will most likely have a conflict dealing with himself and he will have to find what it is to do to spiritually heal himself and those around him. His lack of interest in the world will render him weak in...
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...There is always that one annoying “I am different and unique” kid that nobody likes or understands. In Albert Camus’s novel “The stranger” he explores the other side and allows us to see through that one kids eyes of what it is like to live alone. Furthermore, showing us the most predominant theme in the novel “The Stranger” is being alone and alienated is a painful existence. Right off the bat the book is showcasing the predominant theme throughout the entirety of the first scene. Mersault in the first scene is physically alone. He is sitting by himself at the wake and receives the pain itself of alienation. As stated in the novel on page 10 “It was then that I realized they were all sitting across from me, nodding their heads, grouped around the care taker. For a second I had the ridiculous feeling that they were there to judge me.” The death of his mother had not altered his emotions in any way, and he was being excluded or separated because of it. This separation continues to the next scene, the funeral. He walks lengths ahead of the group and is mostly entertained by the thought of going home as seen on page 18 “Maman’s casket, the white flesh of the roots mixed in with it, more people, voices, the village, waiting in front...
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...His morals led him to his own execution. In the novel, The Stranger, by Albert Camus the main character, Meursault, was charged for murder for killing the Arab. His meaning of life including his indifferent attitude at his Mother’s funeral was used against him which led him to his own execution. The final event reveals that the individual is the one who makes meaning of their own life as can be seen through Meursault's interaction with authority, his attitude towards Marie, and his attitude towards his own death as a means of summarizing the major message of the book. Meursault is uncaring for his actions towards the authority strengthening the theme. Going through the case, Meursault did not seek the Chaplain’s empathy to convince them he was innocent, rather he did the opposite. The chaplain asked if Meursault believed in God because his belief was that, “... all men believed in God… and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would be meaningless. ‘Do want my life to meaningless?’ he shouted… It didn't have anything to do with me, and I told him so” (69). His response reveals that no one should be able to control another person’s life and beliefs; even if it was the authorities or a greater power. If he chose to change his belief and...
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...Hopeless, a task that can never be complete, labor that will never end, happiness that will never be found. This is what Albert Camus shows us in The Myth of Sisyphus. The central point is the absurdity of happiness, this is apparent in the following sentence “But when he had seen again, the face of this world, enjoyed water and sun, warm stones and the sea,” (Albert Camus). Sisyphus is a hedonist, he takes great joy from the world and enjoys all the earthly pleasures of the warm sun, and the calm sea, he loves to live his life full of pleasure. However, the gods are determined to punish Sisyphus for not staying in the underworld after he had died. Consequently, he is taken by Mercury back to the underworld, were his rock is there ready for him....
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...Right and Wrong The Stranger by Albert Camus shows plenty of irony because Meursault was killed unjustly. The crisis of Meursault being killed is a serious problem because he is mentally unstable and the jury should have acknowledged it. Through Meursault’s death Albert Camus suggests that he was unlawfully killed. The author uses irony to illustrate how people can be wrongly convicted in the federal justice system. For example the speaker says, “I heard ‘guilty of murder’... ‘premeditated’ … extenuating circumstances (106).” In other words the speaker was accusing Meursault of committing many crimes but Meursault was just mentally incompetent. He should be given extra help,...
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...Albert Camus’s 1942 novel The Stranger deals with a myriad of pressing questions. Although The Stranger is relatively short, topics such as absurdism, mortality, and ethical decision-making are littered throughout. In addition, as is the case with great works of literature, The Stranger does not provide answers, but rather, opens the door for interpretation, discussion, and conclusions. Why does the protagonist of the novel, Meursault, feel a lack of remorse over his mother’s death? Why did Meursault choose to shoot and kill “the Arab” after attempting to convince his neighbor Raymond not to shoot? Lastly, if what Meursault believes is true, that the world and human existence has no rational purpose or higher meaning, then what is the reason...
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...The Stranger follows the narration of Meursault a detach man who is on trial for killing a man. indifferent to others view of the world he rather have a different approach to life. The book mainly centers around Meursault and his attitude at his mother's funeral and it is his attitude that digs him into deeper trouble for his crime, because society seems to quickly label him a stranger to the society due to his views on morals and he is condemned to accept his death because he is an outsider. "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal", Albert Camus makes great social commentary throughout his novel by showing the effect of society when they come into the hand of Meursault, who doesn't exactly follow...
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...In Albert Camus' The Stranger the Meursault is clearly disillusioned of life and two examples of this disillusionment occurred in the instances of his mother's death and an offer to be transferred to another work environment. The novel The Stranger by Albert Camus portrays how Meursault is disillusioned about things that seem to be the most normal basic human concepts of understanding such as his mothers death. With his mother's death, he seemed indifferent at the loss of her life in every way possible. He was so uninterested in her funeral that he remarked the following: "...I can be there for the vigil and come back tomorrow night" (Camus 3). His mother appeared to slow him down. As if he felt he had better things to do. He claimed he never went to visit her in the nursing home because she enjoyed it too much. Nonetheless, he admitted, that the visit "took up my Sunday -- not to mention the trouble of getting to the bus, buying tickets, and spending two hours traveling" (Camus 5). This shows the true lack of care in his mothers death. To further define his insensitivity, Meursault shed not even one tear in this part of the novel; moreover, he expressed no form of sorrow whatsoever. Secondly, Meursault's attitude and reaction toward an offer to be relocated to a Parisian location was a monumental indicator of his insensitivity. One would expect him to accept or decline the offer graciously and respectfully. Meursault proved, again, to be unpredictable when he states, in...
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...A Happy Death “When I look at my life and its secret colors, I feel like bursting into tears. Like that sky. It’s rain and sun both, noon and midnight. You know, Zagreus, I think of the lips I’ve kissed, and of the wretched child I was, and of the madness of life and the ambition that sometimes carries me away. I’m all those things at once. I’m sure there are times when you wouldn’t even recognize me. Extreme in misery, excessive in happiness—I can’t say it.” “Believe me, there is no such thing as great suffering, great regret, great memory…Everything is forgotten, even a great love. That’s what’s sad about life, and also what’s wonderful about it. There’s only a way of looking at things, a way that comes to you every once in a while. That’s why it’s good to have had love in your life after all, to have had an unhappy passion – it gives you an alibi for the vague despairs we all suffer from.’ After a pause, he added: ‘I don’t know if you understand what I mean.’” “You make the mistake of thinking you have to choose, that you have to do what you want, that there are conditions for happiness. What matters – all that matters, really – is the will to happiness, a kind of enormous, ever-present consciousness. The rest – women, art, success – is nothing but excuses. A canvas waiting for our embroideries.” Is it possible to die a happy death? This is the central question of Camus's astonishing early novel, published posthumously and greeted as a major literary event. it tells the...
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