A Comparison Between, The Stranger, and Metamorphosis
THE STRANGER AND METAMORPHOSIS:
A COMPARISON
By WEI YUDAN
School of Government, 1000016939
[Abstract] Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis and Camus’ The Stranger both lie an essential absurdity, and they both feature situations out of which come to light existentialist values. While The Metamorphosis highlights that one must interact with society in order to have a meaning in life. As for the differences, each novel has its individual narrative point of view and typical writing style.
[Key Words] The Stranger, Metamorphosis, Comparison
I.
Similarities
i. Absurdity
In "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Meursault finds out that his mother died: "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know"1, revealing his existential character.
Although
observant, Meursault makes no attempt to empathize with or understand the other characters. As the story progresses, we move from description laced with introspection to purely introspective recounting.2 The first-person narratives even sharpen the contrast between focus on self and alienation to others. Proofs of this can be found in the last paragraph of
Chapter
1, when friends of Meursault's Mother came to the
1
Camus, 3
2
Dr-Sony, Lecture Three: The Stranger by
Albert Camus
funeral, they grieved and mourned for the loss of their dear poor friend.
Instead of saying thanks to the kind old visitors for their care about his mother, Meursault had no gratitude nor decency, and he even "couldn't hear them, and it was hard to believe they really existed". Again, in the 9th paragraph in Chapter 1, when
Meursault went to his mother's burial, he didn't go to see his mother nor felt a little grieved, instead, he paid attention to "an Arab nurse in a white smock, with a brightly colored scarf on her head", how ridiculous! He was indeed alienated to society and other characters, having nothing to do with the surroundings and living on the outskirts of life.
While "The Metamorphosis" by Franz
Kafka reveals a fantastic premise, and
the
A COMPARISON
By WEI YUDAN
School of Government, 1000016939
[Abstract] Kafka’s novel The Metamorphosis and Camus’ The Stranger both lie an essential absurdity, and they both feature situations out of which come to light existentialist values. While The Metamorphosis highlights that one must interact with society in order to have a meaning in life. As for the differences, each novel has its individual narrative point of view and typical writing style.
[Key Words] The Stranger, Metamorphosis, Comparison
I.
Similarities
i. Absurdity
In "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
Meursault finds out that his mother died: "Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know"1, revealing his existential character.
Although
observant, Meursault makes no attempt to empathize with or understand the other characters. As the story progresses, we move from description laced with introspection to purely introspective recounting.2 The first-person narratives even sharpen the contrast between focus on self and alienation to others. Proofs of this can be found in the last paragraph of
Chapter
1, when friends of Meursault's Mother came to the
1
Camus, 3
2
Dr-Sony, Lecture Three: The Stranger by
Albert Camus
funeral, they grieved and mourned for the loss of their dear poor friend.
Instead of saying thanks to the kind old visitors for their care about his mother, Meursault had no gratitude nor decency, and he even "couldn't hear them, and it was hard to believe they really existed". Again, in the 9th paragraph in Chapter 1, when
Meursault went to his mother's burial, he didn't go to see his mother nor felt a little grieved, instead, he paid attention to "an Arab nurse in a white smock, with a brightly colored scarf on her head", how ridiculous! He was indeed alienated to society and other characters, having nothing to do with the surroundings and living on the outskirts of life.
While "The Metamorphosis" by Franz
Kafka reveals a fantastic premise, and
the