He is invited to dinner with Raymond, hears his story, and writes a letter for him. The color red is used when Meursault is angry or when he feels lust. The Stranger traces a year in the life of a young clerk working for a shipping company in 1940s Algiers. View Full Essay. To Meursault, one city is as good as another. It means that the value of the freedom of choice and action is undermined by justice, ideologies, and moral principles that regulate social order. He continually presents himself awkwardly, or not as those around him expect. There is a particularly poignant moment in which Meursault’s boss becomes angry at him for not showing more excitement over the possibility of moving to Paris. Nevertheless, the philosophy of Camus states that people have enough opportunities to determine destiny by making deliberate choices but not chances determined by fate. When the caretaker invites him to the room, he drinks some coffee with milk and smokes (Camus 12). It is a symbol of happiness, relief, and respite from the heat. How many pages (words) do you need? It was, he states, as though “the whole beach, throbbing in the sun, was pressing on [his] back”. In Albert Camus’ existential novel The Stranger, the pointlessness of life and existence is exposed and expounded upon in such a manner that the entire foundation of spirituality is shaken. The Stranger Characters and Analysis; The Stranger Quotations and Analysis; The Stranger Keys Facts; Literature Guides . The protagonist of this novel breaks the rules, declines the power of religion, questions the sense of life, but his mother said that happiness can be found in any aspect of life (Camus 113). Literary Analysis Essay Of The Stranger and composition. Copyright © 2021 - IvyPanda is a trading name of Edustream It’s nearly unbearable at the beginning of the novel as the funeral procession moves towards the cemetery and almost kills Thomas Perez. The sun presses him forward toward his fate. It was written by Albert Camus in 1942. Furthermore, he does not change his principles before execution so that during the last chaplain’s visit the protagonist confidently affirms that he still envisions no sense in religion (Camus 117). Meursault is the titular example of alienation from oneself, “knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness”, Meursault goes to the beach and movies with Marie. His emotions are stilted and often nonexistent. ""The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis." The setting—both time and place—are important to understand one vital piece of background information about The Stranger : Meursault may "officially" be on trial for killing a man, but he's actually on trial for his character, and it is for this character that he is convicted. ""The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis." When he, Marie, and Raymond are on the beach at Masson’s house the same pleasure can be seen as they move in and out of the water. Overall, the themes of existentialism covered in The Stranger affect the audience by the irrationality of life and the inconsistency of the moral principles. His emotional indifference makes the stranger in the story. - Jenna Kraig, student @ UCLA. Meursault is condemned to death by beheading. After, he grows used to his new schedule. He’s deemed an anti-Christ and is forced to contend with new forced isolation he doesn’t like within his jail cell. Meursault is a shipping clerk living in a decrepit Algiers apartment he shared with his mother before he sent her to an old people's home he rarely visits. Everything is reckless, Meursault is someone who considers life and routine as absurd. Such behavior is perceived as disrespectful and inadequate because people are usually upset when their family members pass away, while the main character remains unflappable. The Stranger By Camus Among Camus’ most famous novels, The Stanger (1942) is perhaps the most remarkable. Literary Analysis: The Stranger The novel The Stranger is a first-person account of the life of M. Meursault from the time of his mother 's death up to a time evidently just before his execution for the murder of an Arab. The Irrationality of the World. The philosophy of existentialism emerged in Europe, sharing the ideas of individuality and freedom based on which people make decisions. …as Camus’s novel L’Étranger (The Stranger), The Myth of Sisyphus contains a sympathetic analysis of contemporary nihilism and touches on the nature of the absurd. The Stranger study guide contains a biography of Albert Camus, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The Stranger by Albert Camus is perhaps even more relevant today than when it was written over 75 years ago. After his arrest, he is alienated from society by his action and inability to account for it. “The Stranger” by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis, Lispector’s “The Fifth Story” in Readers’ Interpretation, Absurdity in Kafka's “The Trial” and Camus' “The Stranger”, Reflective Entry: “The stranger” by Albert Camus, Existentialism in "Nausea" and "The Stranger", “Cat’s Cradle” a Book by Kurt Vonnegut, Camus’ Notions in The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus and The Stranger, "The Brothers Karamazov" and "The Stranger", Themes and Experiences: "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai, Changes in Folktales: "Snow White", "Rapunzel", "The Sleeping Beauty", Naming and Identity in Achebe’s and Senghor’s Works. Compared to The Plague (1947) and The Fall (1956), the language of the novel tends to be easier for reader’s perception, as gradually the writer’s manner keeps getting more complex. As he kills the Arab Meursault says that it felt like “knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness”. About this essay More essays like this: Not sure what I'd do without @Kibin - Alfredo Alvarez, student @ Miami University. Despite rejecting the existence of God, Camus acknowledges that a world with no religion will be full of chaos so that everything would be uncontrolled due to no restrictions or moral regulations. The authors of the books have different styles and techniques used to create their vision of a great story. Meursault returns to the beach with a gun and shoots the brother. Set in Algiers at some point before World War Two, the novel revolves around two main events - the death of Mearsault’s mother and the apparently unpremeditated killing of an Arab for which he is arrested and brought to trial. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-stranger-by-albert-camus-literary-analysis/. Philosophical views also have an immense impact on the development of literary … His belief is that there is no rational meaning or order to life. Subsequently, the ideas of absurdism affect the audience because they define uncommon values associated with a differentiating behavior that expresses the inner self of the person rather than masks one’s true feelings and motivation for actions. The writer’s philosophy implies that people have enough freedom to determine their destiny by making deliberate choices. Books Related to The Stranger Directly related to The Stranger is Camus’ best-known philosophical essay, The Myth of Sisyphus. He does not hesitate to say what he’s thinking or try to disguise his speech with frivolous language or qualifiers. Even during the examination when he is asked about the pause between the first and the second shot, the protagonist only reminds of the power of the burning sun on his forehead but could not explain anything (Camus 67). These are two of the most prominent themes, along with sadness. Although Camus employs the use of a plethora of literary techniques, some of the most conspicuous include those of foreshadowing, imagery, and intricate diction. No one appears to take real pleasure in anything and the hours of Meursault’s life are plain and mundane. A Literary Analysis of the Stranger by Albert Camus PAGES 1. He seems to have no reaction to the death of his mother. Camus, Albert. IvyPanda. The anti-hero Meursault at the beginning of the novel, is invited to the funeral of his mother where he does not cry. Other themes one will encounter in The Stranger include colonialism, sex, and friendship. Your privacy is extremely important to us. Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know”. The novel opens when he receives a telegram saying his mother has died. Summary Read a Plot Overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter Summary and Analysis. Symbolism is shown in both part one and part two. The Stranger is a novel by Albert Camus that was first published in 1942. It incorporates the ideas of absurdity which question the value and sense of human life depicted throughout the subjective experiences of the protagonist. What type of assignment 📝 do you need? Literary analysis: How Meursault is indifferent in The Stranger, by Albert Camus Although Meursault is the title character and narrator of Albert Camus’ short novel The Stranger, he is also a somewhat flat character. The inner struggle between personal values and external expectations are clearly illustrated in the actions and thoughts of the protagonist. Literary Analysis of The Stranger by Albert Camus Literature has always been reflecting major trends in various spheres of social and political life at a certain period. December 13, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-stranger-by-albert-camus-literary-analysis/. It is an ever-present force in the novel that he can’t escape. Overall, the mood of the novel is dark and bleak. He experiences life as a spectator. Wow. Part One begins with the death of the protagonist’s mother and the subsequent f… He is there when he meets up with Marie the day after getting back from his mother’s funeral. There are various literary devices used in The Stranger. Bierce was a well-known American writer and journalist whom we remember today for his ghost stories and stories of the macabre. It was written by Albert Camus in 1942. We utilize security vendors that protect and The next day Raymond assaults his girlfriend and the police stop him. Meursault feels none of the same emotion. The concept that drives this novel is one coined by Albert Camus himself, the “absurd”. professional specifically for you? Curtis Poindexter Professor Slattum English M01B 11 December 2014 Literary Analysis: The Stranger The novel The Stranger is a first-person account of the life of M. Meursault from the time of his mother 's death up to a time evidently just before his execution for the murder of an Arab. These are two of the most prominent themes, along with sadness. "The Stranger" by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis. Thus, the protagonist neglects the truth of religion, rebels against the rules, and lives an irrational life but declares himself happy, which makes him a respected existentialist hero. Meursault is the titular example of alienation from oneself, society, and nature. In this case, the existentialism dogma questions the freedom of choice and juxtaposition of subjective and objective values. Project literary analysis essay of the stranger Julius caesar assassination essay. It is important to remember that Camus was a philosopher who described the irrational aspect of existence. When Meursault is about to murder the Arab he places some of the blame on the sun. Meursault has no desire to say goodbye to his mother or connect with the mourners in the room with him. The life of the main character is the sequence of random and impulsive choices that form his individuality. From reading the poem with no background information the reader would think it is about a lonely man walking down a path. He disappeared mysteriously at the age of seventy-one or seventy-two and was never seen or heard from again. There has been an element of hope within him despite his knowledge that death is a soon certainty, and caught between his hope for life and his certainty of death, Meursault's thoughts have become wild and random. Marie, Meursault, and Raymond travel to Masson’s beach house, Raymond is stabbed by his mistress’ brother. He asks Meursault to examine his faith and brandishes the item almost like a weapon. Literary analysis: How Meursault is indifferent in The Stranger, by Albert Camus Although Meursault is the title character and narrator of Albert Camus’ short novel The Stranger, he is also a somewhat flat character. He is a narrator simply reporting the facts of the story. 2020. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. He knew exactly what he was getting into, but embraced it anyway. This creative and scholarly work combines a thought provoking textual and historical analysis of one of the most brilliant works of fiction ever written. IvyPanda. Essay my hobby badminton case study in market research. He rejects religious meaning and secular whenever it comes his way. He reacts the same way to Marie’s proposal, his trial, the complexities of the legal system, and eventually, his death sentence. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Stranger and what it means. - Chris Stochs, student @ UC Berkeley . The Stranger In The Stranger, Philip Thody had a good judgement of the overall theme in the text. The novel is narrated by the main character or protagonist: a young man called Mearsault who gives the reader a unique perspective as the events in the novel unfold. 13 December. In general, the literary works of the writer explore a search for justice, liberty, and faith in human dignity, disregarding the external factors and neglect of personal identity. His indifference is hated and condemned by others. As a reader learns from Meursault’s first-person narration, he does not find life to be meaningful. Major Themes of The Stranger. He uses figurative language minimally and gets straight to the point of what Meursault is feeling (or not feeling) and saying. Sadness or a lack of sadness permeates the novel. The Stranger is filled with multilayered symbols and enunciated through Camus’s straightforward writing style. Proofreading sets any writing apart from “acceptable” and makes it exceptional. Unfortunately, your browser is too old to work on this site. Albert Camus is a famous author and philosopher who was born in the family of French expatriates in Algiers. He acts based on his prejudices and choices but realizes what he is doing and knows the value of words (Camus 100). The chaplain tries to get Meursault to accept God and he loses his temper. The poem, “The Stranger,” by Gord Downie has a deeper meaning than what the reader may consider. The main character, Meursualt appears utterly detached from other people. He separates himself from others by his inability or unwillingness to connect on a deep level. Meursault, the protagonist, obviously lacks remorse when his mother dies so that his behavior is not typical during the funeral. Summary and Analysis Part 2: Chapter V He speaks of hope. This essay on “The Stranger” by Albert Camus: Literary Analysis was written and submitted by your fellow student. Colors of the ocean, the sky, and the view of everyday life symbolize different feelings. You can use them for inspiration, an insight into a particular topic, a handy source of reference, or even just as a template of a certain type of paper.