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 his Novel The Stranger‚ Albert Camus tells the story of a man‚ Meursault‚ a character who shows almost no emotions‚ even though he lives an ordinary life. He has a job‚ a girl who loves him‚ and a life full or purpose‚ yet he still acts as a stranger in his work life‚ social life‚ and love life. From the first line of the story Meursault was strange‚ “Mother died today. Or‚ maybe‚ yesterday; I can’t be sure.” The telegram from the Home says: “Your mother passed away. Funeral tomorrow. Deep sympathy
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driven by a need or desire. Camus challenged this notion with The Stranger. In one sense he upheld the idea that we simply strive to fulfill needs. In another sense‚ Camus forced us to understand that sometimes there is no reason‚ no need being met; simply an organism reacting to stimuli. He highlighted the contradictory nature of humans with his main character‚ Meursault‚ who was stimulated by nature for better or worse. Meursault appreciated the beauty surrounding him‚ but was antagonized
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Throughout The Stranger by Albert Camus‚ the protagonist‚ Meursault‚ is worried about being judged. The reader does not realize that Camus sets us up to constantly judge Meursault. Meursault is very analytical and can seem to be insensitive at times. However‚ Meursault’s actions can be taken many different ways. The ending leaves the reader to give a final judgment on whether Meursault is a menace to society or not. Meursault should not have received the death sentence because he was judged for his
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The Stranger Essay If people were to accept that absurdism exists then that would mean that life is irrational and has no arrangements of any sort. This would mean that everything mankind has done so far to progress itself through society and religion means absolutely nothing because both are used to control chaos from happening in the first place. Consequently‚ if a person is known to be an absurdist‚ people would generally think that means someone who lives a life without any meaning. However
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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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“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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detail is a main theme in The Stranger. Camus uses this to display how Meursault choses to put off the real world and study the small things. Meursault notices the nature around him‚ colors‚ and temperature. You see he is more fascinated in the physicality of the world around him rather than the emotional and social elements it has to offer. It is not until the end of his life when he finally takes in that he has been ignoring human nature and feelings. To Meursault the physical world is the only
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In his car‚ traversing through his hometown of Westlake‚ Louisiana‚ Mayor Hardey has implemented all of the policies that a Republican could ask for: he has invested immense amounts of money towards foreign oil companies like Sasol‚ he did not implement heavy taxes‚ he has worked towards deregulation of these oil companies‚ and as a result‚ he was worked towards the expansion of industry‚ in hopes for a promise that their town and their State as whole‚ will become prosperous and wealthy. Despite
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The kindness on strangers Blanche is a fading‚ but nevertheless attractive Southern belle‚ whose pretensions to virtue and culture only thinly mask her alcoholism and delusions of grandeur. Her poise is an illusion she presents to shield others‚ and most of all herself‚ from reality to try to make herself still attractive to new male suitors. Blanche arrives from her hometown of Auriol‚ Mississippi at the apartment of her sister‚ Stella Kowalski (Kim Hunter)‚ in the French Quarter of New Orleans
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