Metamorphosis And The Stranger - 1288 Words

The existence and purpose of human live has always posed a question for society. To answer this question, philosophers ponder Existentialism. Existentialism is the philosophy that humans exist for no true purpose and that each individual changes essence in his or her lifetime by finding meaning in life through freewill, choice, and personal responsibility without certain knowledge of right and wrong. This theory gained popularity in the mid-1900s after WWII caused many people to lose hope in an ordered world and accept that no cosmic justice exists. According to this theory, no absolute rules govern humans’ lives. This theory appears throughout literature and offers a grim perspective on human existence. The Metamorphosis, written by†¦show more content†¦In addition, Meursault cannot find a solid place in society. He lives alone due to the death of his mother. Society cannot accept the manner in which Meursault addresses his mother’s death. Since he thinks tha t â€Å"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, [he doesn’t] know† (Camus 3), society believes that he does not care that his mother dies. Everyone judges him because he does not relate to the rest of the people. Meursault receives immense criticism at his trial concerning his murdering another man. At his trial, Meursault can â€Å"feel how much all these people [the jury] hated† (Camus 90) him. The jury does not commend him or even regard him with understanding about his mother’s death. Some people react to death without actually reacting to it; Meursault subconsciously chooses to do so but receives condemnation. Both characters experience isolation from society. The characters also think illogically without true reasoning. When Gregor transforms into a large beetle, his first thought is not how to fix his situation. Rather, he thinks to himself, â€Å"How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense† (Kafka 7). He does not search for a solution or ask for help but finds sleeping an appropriate response. Later, he continues by concluding that his bug state is a result of â€Å"getting up early all the time† (Kafka 7) because â€Å"it makes you stupid† (Kafka 7). While not sleeping enough surely does cause people to become tired and theShow MoreRelatedThe Grapes Of Wrath, The Stranger, And The Metamorphosis925 Words   |  4 PagesOne theme that is found in Brave New World, Cry, the Beloved Country, The Grapes of Wrath, The Stranger, and The Metamorphosis is fear. Early in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, we learn the source of the guilt Uncle John feels--his wife complained of a stomach ache, but John played it off. Soon after, his wife died of appendicitis. John still blames himself. He is afraid no one will like him after this because he murdered his wife. To compensate for this fear he leaves packs of gum for theRead MoreThe Role of Women in the Metamorphosis and the Stranger1597 Words   |  7 Pages| World Literature Essay | Role of Women in The Stranger and Metamorphosis | | Maria Fernanda Contreras | 6/17/2010 | | â€Å"The woman kept on crying† (10) – this ability to experience and express emotions is shown as something both the protagonists in both novels - The Metamorphosis written by Franz Kafka and The Stranger by Albert Camus – lack. Women are usually portrayed as the element of society who are more likely to show this ability which connects them to the world surrounding themRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness, Metamorphosis, And The Stranger1839 Words   |  8 PagesThis paper is to explain the comparisons and contrasts of â€Å"The Heart of Darkness†, â€Å"Metamorphosis†, and â€Å"The Stranger†. 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The Metamorphosis and The Stranger describe the transformation of young men who journey through life while discoveringRead MoreExistentialism in Literature and Science846 Words   |  3 Pagesunderstand the meaning of existentialism, it must be analyzed through the impacts it has had on both literature and scientific theories alike. The literary movement of existentialism is seen heavily in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis and Albert Camus’ The Stranger. In The Metamorphosis, the movement of his existentialism is gradual. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, hates his job and he wishes to be free of all his social suffering. This is seen when he is transformed into a â€Å"monstrous vermin† (KafkaRead MoreMiscommunication Causes Serious Consequences Leading to Alienation and Discrimination Within a Society1202 Words   |  5 Pagesand vulnerable. In Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis and Albert Camus The Stranger, the significant role of communication is portrayed through two extreme examples. Miscommunication causes serious consequences leading to alienation and discrimination within a society like the lonesome raindrops, aloof and out of the worlds reach. Meursault, the protagonist in The Stranger, encounters a dilemma different than the anti-hero, Gregor Samsa, from The Metamorphosis does. As the main character transformsRead MoreKubler-Ross on Gregor Samsa and Meursault1589 Words   |  7 PagesIn the novels The Metamorphosis and The Stranger by Franz Kafka and Albert Camus, Kubler-Ross’s five stages of death are incorporated to emphasize the themes of individualism and isolation. While denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance are common emotions when dealing with death, denial, anger, and acceptance are essential in connecting to Kafka and Camus’s ideas regarding individualism. Through their experiences relating to those three stages of death, the protagonists, Gregor SamsaRead MoreThe Meta Metamorphosis : A Depth Look Into The Metamorphosis Of Grete1073 Words   |  5 PagesAlexandra Birkbeck Rogers IB English A: literature (SL) February 28th, 2012 Word Count: 1,416 The Meta-Metamorphosis: An In-depth Look into the Metamorphosis of Grete In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, one can find two forms of metamorphoses. One, being the most apparent, is Gregor’s physical transformation from a man to an insect, and secondly one may find a subtext of a form of transformation of Grete. This transformation is one that allows Grete to switch roles from being a young sister roleRead MoreA Concrete Human Existence, And The Conditions Of Such Existence1689 Words   |  7 PagesSimone De Beauvoir (1908-1986). Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.) Albert Camus- In The Stranger, Camus displays the absurd and the indifference of life. In his later novel, The Fall discusses the guilt of all men, not only in their actions, but in their inactions as well. The Stranger- Camus himself did not believe in God; many of his characters then follow the same path, or rather do not follow any path. Meursault is caught with theRead MoreThe Metamorphosis By Frank Kafka849 Words   |  4 PagesThe Metamorphosis is a short novella written by Frank Kafka during the 20th century Modernism period. The Modern period introduced technological advances like the steam engine; the telephone and telegraph connected humans from different regions and help improve the human experience. Although the increase of these technological devices led to an improvement of the human condition it also led to the production of dangerous weapons and modern warfare. Global conflicts ravaged modern life due to increasing