In the novel, The Stranger, the author, Albert Camus, creates a world of ironic dynamics between characters, while the non-conformist protagonist, Meursault, is tasked to live in the same world aware of said dynamics. Camus introduces the readers to characters like Raymond Sintes and old Salamano, who live these ironic dynamics to a great extent. They both physically punish their problems: for Raymond it is his ungrateful-cheating prostitute, and for Salamano, his dilapidated canine. Despite their apparent distaste and hatred for them, once they lose them, they seem to develop a need to have them back in their life, their routine. They essentially lose whatever power they have over them, and feel powerless without them. Camus also provides …show more content…
The dog pulls salamano along "until old Salamano stumble[s], Then he beats him and swears at him". The abusive dynamic between Salamano and his dog, has become so routine that meursault could predict what could happen next. The irony of this dynamic, however, lies in that fact that this abuse continued for so long: "They both stand there on the sidewalk and stare at each other, the dog in terror, the men in hatred" and "it's the same thing everyday"(Camus 27). To add further irony to the dynamic, when old Salamano loses the canine he is "flustered," and "looked even more flustered" when Raymond mentioned that the dog might come back, because he thought that someone would "take him away from [him]". This contrast in Salamanos demeanor shows how vulnerable he is without his dog. The beatings he gives the dog, who "look[s] as if they belonged to the same species,"(Camus 27) is an attempt to beat away at his own death. Salamano even says himself that "the dogs real sickness [is] old age"(Camus 45), since he can not beat him anymore, he can not beat back death. This shows that Salamano punished the old canine, because he feared his own death in which the dog represents. While there, Meursault feels indifferent, while others like Celeste feel "Pitiful" for the …show more content…
After detainment for murdering the Arab, Meursault is investigated. When his lawyer proses him with the question of whether he loved Maman, he said that he "probably did," but that it "didn't matter"; The lawyer "seem[s] upset" and "[finds him] disgusting"(Camus 65). This is very subtly ironic because the lawyer gives meaning to something that is lacking it. This points to the part of Meursault the lawyer sees in himself; by condemning Meursault he feels at ease from this fear of becoming him. This same dynamic can be found between Meursault and the Magistrate. When Meursault says he does not believe in god the magistrate becomes very upset because his belief is challenged; "That was his belief, and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless."(Camus 69). By not believing in god Meursault provokes the part of the magistrate that the magistrate fears the most; a person without god, without meaning. By condemning Meursault - which in itself ironic because as a man of religion he is supposed to be accepting - the magistrate is able to save himself from becoming
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.
One of the most absurd things of all is how upset Salamano is when he looses his dog. He doesn’t treat the dog well or appreciate it when it’s there, but is distressed when it is missing. When Meursault suggests that he get a new dog, Salamano replies that he “was used to this one.” It’s not about loving the dog, it was about feeling comfortable and “used to” the routine that they had together.
At first glance, Meursault could be seen as an evil man. He shows no grief at his mother’s funeral, worrying more about the heat. His first reaction to his mother’s death is not sadness, it is a matter-of-fact, unemotional acceptance of the situation. “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” Later on in the story, Meursault kills an Arab on the beach, and his only concern is that he has ruined the calm, pleasant day he was having. When he is in jail, the magistrate comes in an attempt to save Meursault’s soul, but instead of cooperating, Meursault simply confounds the magistrate by refusing to believe in God. Even at his trial, Meursault doesn’t show any remorse for having killed the Arab. Based on this evidence alone, how can we not see Meursault as evil?
This passage is set before Meursault’s execution with the chaplain entering the scene, and telling Meursault that his “heart is blind”, leading to Meursault to yell and delve into his rant, and moment of consciousness. The passage has a calm in the beginning as if Meursault catches his breath from yelling previously, and he starts to reassure himself that he is not wrong for expressing his views as it went against the public’s religious beliefs, and states that this moment was so important to him that it was if his life was merely leading up to it. Why this particular scene is important to Meursault is that this is an instance where he successfully detaches himself from the world, and begins to deconstruct the world’s ideals as his rant shifts on to focusing on how nothing in life mattered. Meursault describes his gripes with the chaplain’s words as he explains his reasoning as to why the concept of a god is flawed as Meursault saw that everyone was inherently the same, with equal privileges just how often people could express them separated them. The passage continues with Meursault arguing that everyone would be faced with judgment or punishment one day, and explains why his own situation was not significant as it was no different. After that explanation the passage ends with Meursault posing the concept of everything in the world being equal both in wrongdoing and life in general, evident in his example of saying “Sala¬mano's dog was worth just as much as his wife.” Although the passage shows Meursault challenging the ethics and morals that the world around him follows, it does have instances like the end in which we see that the rant is still expression of Meursault's complex emotions, as it is unclear whether it is fear or a...
In many works of literature, a character conquers great obstacles to achieve a worthy goal. Sometimes the obstacles are personal impediments, at other times it consists of the attitude and beliefs of others. In the book The Stranger by Albert Camus, shows the character Meursault who is an emotionless character that let’s other people show their opinions and emotions into him, giving him a type of feeling even if Meursault doesn’t care. Meursault is a victim of emotional indifference between his friends and social indifference. This essay will be about the character’s struggle that contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole.
Albert Camus’ The Stranger offers one man’s incite into the justice of society. Monsieur Meursault, the main protagonist in the novel, believes that morals and the concept of right and wrong possess no importance. This idea influences him to act distinctively in situations that require emotion and just decision, including feeling sadness over his mother’s death, the abuse of a woman, and his killing of an innocent man. In these situations Meursault apathetically devoids himself of all emotion and abstains from dealing with the reality in front of him. When confronted by the court over his murder, he reiterates his habitual motto on life that nothing matters anyways, so why care? His uncaring response inflames the people working within the
Albert Camus is a skillful writer noted for showing aspects of culture and society through the depiction of his characters. In The Stranger, Camus illustrates the existentialism culture and how that comes into play in the life of the protagonist Meursault. The Stranger, as suggested by the title, is a novel revolving around the protagonist, Meursault, who is a stranger to the French-Algerian society as he challenges its values. Camus vividly portrays Meursault’s journey through the use of imagery, irony, and symbolism. In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses the minor character, Raymond Sintes, to illustrate the contrasting nature of Meursault and how his friendship with Raymond leads to his downfall.
Second part of the novel begins with the interrogation, (after killing the Arab for no reason) and illustrates Meursault’s unique personality of not caring about the society's customs and practices,” I didn’t take him to seriously”.(63) During this process, Meursault is presented as a human with no soul, not reacting as expected by the magistrate when he waves the crucifix at him, and indifferent to prison. Once again, like at his mother’s funeral, Meursault focuses on the practical details of his new life, rather than on its emotional elements. His imprisonment does not incite any guilt or regret whatsoever and even worst he doesn’t think about the implication of his crime, but instead he selfishly goes back on analyzing his physical state and the case trial from the outside with no emotional implication. He notes that getting an attorney appointed by the court is “very convenient”, he also enjoys the examining magistrate’s friendly attitude and does no t...
feelings in the man and the dog, of a constant battle with this world of
It is true that Meursault was different from the rest of society. However, he changes throughout the trial and eventually becomes an existentialist hero. This is because he finds meaning in life. It is ironic, though, that he learns to appreciate life after his is effectively over. His apathetic approach to life is made clear from the first page: “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know.” This foreshadows his approach to everything else in the book. His indifference to Maman’s death contrast’s significantly to Salamano’s distress at losing his dog. Many of the characters in this book also function to highlight his qualities through contrast.
Finally, it can be asserted that the suffering of Meursault is a result of his disbelief in God. As he does not believe in God, he cannot find out any meaning in his life. Consequently, he is aware of the fact that no matter what choices he makes, the ultimate result is death. To him there is no life after death, so he has neither any fear for punishment nor any hope for reward.
.... He wanted to file a legal appeal but he knew they would all get rejected. Meursault was not sentenced to death because he killed the Arab but because of his absence of emotion to his mother’s death. The people wanted him dead because he posed a threat to the morals of the society. But when he accepts the fact that he is going to die he feels a sense of freedom and he looks forward to his execution. By rejecting to believe in God, it shows that he does value any hope of life after death. Then when he accepts his death sentence, he also takes the punishment away from it either. He is neither depressed nor hopeful when it comes to his death, which overall proves how he lacks morality in the story.
Ones take of this story can be many of sorts. The dog essential may have saved this young child, his father may have chosen to throw him out the window. If the dog wasn’t there to take his place, who is to say what could had happened? It also shows how the dogs undeniable, love, devotion and eagerness to please his master. Eventually these traits, sadly left him resting lifeless in his young master’s arms. The relationships between these characters, is one of who’s pulling the strings. The abuse has been passed down from father to son. This story leaves an emptiness, with the unsettling turn of events.
The dog also allowed the child to occasionally take out anger on it, even when no reason was given. The dog played a safe haven that allowed the boy to believe things would get better shown here: “When misfortune came upon the child, and his troubles overwhelmed him, he would often crawl under the table and lay his small distressed head on the dog’s back. The dog was ever sympathetic”(Crane, "A Dark Brown Dog"). The story eventually ends with the dog’s death by the hands of the child’s father here: “The father of the family paid no attention to these calls of the child, but advanced with glee upon the dog. He rolled over on his back and held his paws in a peculiar manner.
Albert Camus wrote The Stranger during the Existentialist movement, which explains why the main character in the novel, Meursault, is characterized as detached and emotionless, two of the aspects of existentialism. In Meursault, Camus creates a character he intends his readers to relate to, because he creates characters placed in realistic situations. He wants the reader to form a changing, ambiguous opinion of Meursault. From what Meursault narrates to the reader in the novel, the reader can understand why he attempts to find order and understanding in a confused and mystifying world.