“Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe‚ I don’t know.” (Camus‚ 3). These opening lines of The Stranger by Albert Camus gives a feeling for how the rest of the novel will continue to go. The reader’s initial reaction may be shocked. How does someone not know when their mother died and why do they not care? Albert Camus was an existentialist and wrote in such a way. Existentialism is a philosophy that focuses on the ideas of existence and not believing in a God‚ the freedom of choice and responsibility
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In Albert Camus’ novel‚ The Stranger‚ Meursault represents an existentialist character. Most may believe him to be immoral‚ and in some cases they are almost correct. Contrary to that belief‚ just because Meursault is an emotionless silhouette of a man doesn’t mean he is immoral or evil. One cannot condemn him for being this way because he is simply misunderstood. Meursault does not make moral or immoral decisions‚ he is just completely indifferent to the matter. Readers are able to sympathize with
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The universe is often viewed as irrational and absurd. The French literature novel‚ The Outside‚ written by Albert Camus focuses on the judicious meaning of human existence and the lives of individuals. In 1957‚ Camus was awarded with the Nobel Prize in literature “for his important literary production‚ which with clear-sighted earnestness illuminates the problems of the human conscience in our times.” (Novel Prize Literature) The Outsider concentrates on the rational meaning of human existence and
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June 27‚ 2012 Book Critique of Albert Camus’ THE PLAGUE In reading Camus’ The Plague‚ I found myself easily attaching personal significance to the many symbolic references and themes alluded to in this allegorical work. Some of the most powerful messages woven throughout the novel seem to all speak to conflict or imbalance between two ends of a spectrum. The ideas of apathy vs. concern‚ solidarity vs. isolation‚ freedom vs. imprisonment (intellectually and physically)‚ individual moral
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The Stranger by Albert Camus was published in 1946. The novel begins with Meursault receiving a telegram informing him of his mother’s death. Over the next two weeks after the funeral‚ Meursault carries on like nothing tragic happened. He gets a girlfriend‚ befriends a pimp‚ and goes on a beach vacation with both. During the vacation‚ he and Raymond‚ the pimp‚ get into a fight with the Arabs and Meursault kills one without an explanation for the crime. At the murder trial‚ the court said he was cold-hearted
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In the book the Stranger by Albert Camus‚ we are introduced to the main character immediately with a very tragic scenario of a death. The main character is a male‚ but he is not your average male shown by his actions and personality. But who is this strange man? his name is Meursault. He seems to lack emotion; because for major events in his life (such as the opening scene) that are full of emotion‚ but he shows absolutely no emotion to these events in his life. He also appears to be very detached
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Symbolism in Camus’ "The Plague" For the first essay for Integrative Studies 300 I would like to write on the Camus work‚ The Plague. Since Albert Camus has a philosophical view unlike that of many western writers‚ the book can serve as an excellent reflection on an unpopular view of life‚ living‚ and death. Life without a god poses many ironies; Camus attempts to satisfy those ironies. By using many examples of symbolism‚ Camus conveys his own philosophy in a certain way so that his characters
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Warrington English115 March 2014 The Stranger Draft The Stranger by Albert Camus holds a nihilistic theme. Camus‚ being a philosopher‚ wrote a lot about his perspective on life. He discusses how he believes that life has absolutely no meaning besides living in order to inevitably face death. In the story‚ The Stranger‚ Meursault symbolizes Albert Camus’s beliefs through his personality and actions. Neither the external world in which Meursault perceives
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“ Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.” In the story The Stranger by Albert Camus we are introduced to Meursault‚ a psychologically detached character who at first seems indifferent and apathetic which at first is very frustrating to the reader. However‚ through multiple readings‚ you understand the character is almost a mirrored reflection of the author. The author Albert Camus‚ tells us his views on society and the justice through his character Meursault. His
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With the Guest by Andrew Camus: Daru We have had the opportunity in the last month to read many short story selections‚ giving us examples of many different things. When asked to pick a character to analyze it was a tough decision but I would have to go with the story that most interested me to choose my character. This story would be "With the Guest"‚ written by Albert Camus. With the main character of this story is Daru. In the following paragraphs I will analyze the type of character he
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