Indifference in Camus’ The Stranger (The Outsider)
Albert Camus’ novel, The Stranger, examines what happens to a passive man when mixed in a murder. During the trial of the main character, Meursault, the prosecutor examines Meursault’s normal behavior as callous and cold. In order for the prosecutor to have a case in the reader’s mind, Camus must create the past that the trial calls for. Camus shows a passive man, and the way that he deals with normal life occurrences. Camus must create a portrait of indifference.
When Meursault is talking to Raymond Sintes, a neighbor of his, Raymond tells his tales of violence and asks Meursault for advice. Meursault seems withdrawn during his time with Raymond. Raymond had actually asked Meursault into his room so that he may ask Meursault’s opinion: “because I was a man, I knew about things, I could help him out, and then we’d be pals.” (Camus, 29) Meursault remains quiet in the conversation, but eventually does speak up: “I didn’t say anything, and he asked me again if I wanted to be pals. I said it was fine with me: he seemed pleased.” (Camus, 29) It really made no difference to Meursault if he was stated as a friend of Raymond’s or not. The way that Meursault does not contribute to the conversation and that it is just “fine with [him]” to be friends creates an image of indifference. This image continues to grow as Raymond continues to talk to Meursault. Raymond goes on to tell of his problems with women, and Meursault still remains silent. After his Raymond’s confessions are over he once again thanks Meursault for being a pal: “I didn’t mind being his pal, and he seemed set on it.” (Camus, 33) Once again, Meursault’s attitude makes it seem that he doesn’t really care if he is Raymond’s pal. It has no effect of him, but it will help out Raymond, so he’ll be his pal.
When Meursault is asked to deal with serious relationship questions and issues, he shows his indifference again. Because Meursault becomes romantically involved with Marie, she eventually asks him if he loves her, “I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so.” (Camus, 35) This seems to be a very cold response to a question that is taken seriously, but M was telling the truth. It didn’t really matter to him.
Kay Arthur is outstanding at directing your thinking to keep it methodical while allowing you to come to conclusions yourself. In some respects, the book can be considered as written in a question and answer format, but Kay offers necessary explanation and direction.
“War Record << Red Tail Squadron Red Tail Squadron.” Red Tail Squadron. Accessed March 30, 2014. http://www.redtail.org/the-airmen-a-brief-history/war-record/.
Lewis, James E. The Louisiana Purchase: Jefferson's Noble Bargain?. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press, 2003.
Efforts to engage Meursault in secular structures of meaning are equally futile. When Meursault's boss offers Meursault a position in Paris, he expects Meursault to embrace the opportunity for career advancement. Meursault, though, lacks all ambition and turns down the boss' offer without considering it. As a student, Meursault recalls, "I had lots of ambitions…But when I had to give up my studies I learned very quickly that none of it really mattered." When Marie asks Meursault whether he wants to marry her, she expects him to take the institution of marriage seriously. Yet Meursault is indifferent towards it, thinks "it didn't mean anything" to love a person, and agrees to marry Marie simply because she wants to marry him. Though he grows fond of her, he doesn't cultivate any attachment to her more meaningful than superficial attraction. Throughout his trial, Meursault is equally bemused by the meaninglessness of the justice system and finds its attempts to impose rational, meaningful structure on his actions ridiculous. He considers the guilty verdict he eventually receives entirely arbitrary, and describes its "certainty" as "arrogant."
During my research in the assimilation of Native American Education, it was both interesting and alarming to learn of how the Americans assimilated the Native Americans into their White society. The focus of my paper is on how the assimilation of Native Americans was carried out in relation to their education and culture change. As well as, listing and describing certain types of schools created by the government to attain this. It is necessary to include how a typical day in the life of a Native American was spent; therefore, I have included a brief description of a day. In conclusion, there is a discussion of the reactions to boarding schools and the changing process in Native American culture and education.
...ll. The inner city has many complications the fact that most are African American is a mere coincidence. If we as a nation are capable of fixing all institutions and structural issues we could bring the slums out of poverty. The cycle of unemployment and poverty is a terrible cycle that cannot only be judged by race and cultural values. When reading this book keep in mind the difficulties, any family or person could go through these tribulations. There are many arguments and sides to each problem; this is another one of those. The battle for inner city poverty, and the factors that go along with it, has not been finished. Wilson brings out a different aspect which could help people expand horizons and come up with better solutions.
Tracy, S.M., & Dinapoli, P.P. (2012) Exploring the Theory of Integral Nursing with Implications for Pain
Often times an author incorporates a thought or philosophy into a work that can shape or reshape the attitude emitted from the novel. In Albert Camus', The Stranger, the Existential philosophy that the author fills into the work give an aura of apathy. With the opening lines of "Mother died today. Or, maybe, yesterday; I can't be sure," Camus immediately sets a tone of indifference (1). Though the protagonist, Mersault, is not completely without cares, the overall attitude of passiveness he has toward himself, as well as toward others, give the entire novel a tone of apathy.
Bhardwaj, G. & Sengupta R. (2012). Subprime mortgage design. Journal of Banking & Finance, 36, 1503-1519
The Stranger written by Albert Camus is an absurdist novel revolving around the protagonist, Meursault. A major motif in the novel is violence. There are various places where violence takes place and they lead to the major violent act, which relates directly to the theme of the book. The major violent act of killing an Arab committed by Meursault leads to the complete metamorphosis of his character and he realizes the absurdity of life.
Wood, Kerry.” Literary Analysis : Irony In ‘ The Cask Of Amontillado’ by Edgar Allan Poe.”Humanities 360. Helium, Inc., 9 Nov 2007. Web.17 Mar 2014.
In The Stranger, Albert Camus misleadingly portrays his existentialistic views of life, death, and the world. Camus portrays the world as absurd or without purpose Meaursalt, who, as a reflection of Camus, is foreign and indifferent to his own life and death. Meaursalt eventually senses guilt for his crime, not because of the remorse of taking someone else’s life, but because it means he would lose the little things that he considers important in his life. Meaursalt is a puzzling character, who leaves readers to be uncertain about Camus’ views of life.
As we age and enter different stages of life, our personal obligations and responsibilities tend to become more time-consuming. As a wife, student, employee, and caretaker for an elderly woman, some days feel incredibly overwhelming and daunting. By applying a specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound (S.M.A.R.T.) process to my day, it becomes much more feasible. However, what about the long-term goals that will affect your future? By using the S.M.A.R.T. goal system, you are able to make your dreams a reality one small step at a time.
...ause I Could Not Stop for Death” Dickinson portrays her feelings of death and dying through the eyes of the dying. In this poem, the reader learns what it is like to experience death. In “After great pain, a formal feeling comes,” Dickinson personifies death and the feelings accompanied with it. Although the deceased has no feelings, Dickinson compares the two to help gain a better understanding of the feelings accompanied with the loss of a loved one.
Pollen, John Hungerford. "The Suppression of the Jesuits (1750-1773)." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 23 Mar. 2014 .