Comparing Existentialist Values in The Metamorphosis and The Stranger (The Outsider) :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Metamorphosis and The Stranger - Existentialist Values   Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis and Albert Camus The Stranger, both feature protagonists in situations out of which arise existentialist philosopher values. Existentialism is a philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of ones acts . In The Metamorphosis the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, realizes his existentialism towards the end of the novella. In contrast, Monsieur Meursault, the protagonist in The Stranger, knows of his existentialism, unless realizing his lifes lack of meaning moments after he is sentenced to death. Despite the somewhat absurd nature of The Metamorphosis, and the realistic nature of The Stranger, similar values are communicated to the reader. The easiest to pick out being that it is up to the indi vidual to make his/her own life, and that the inhuman behaviour presented by both protagonists will eventually lead to rattling bad things namely death in both novellas. These deaths are, however, very different, as are the methods through which Kafka and Camus have made each novel nothing but a philosophy put into images . Meursault (the narrator) in The Stranger only sees and only wants to see the absolute truth in society. The readers first encounter with him... Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I dont know. I got a telegram from the home fetch deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours. That doesnt mean Anything. Maybe it was yesterday . ...immediately gives an impression of a lack of emotion towards the demise of his mother. This lack of emotion highlights the existentialist ideal that we all die, so it doesnt matter what life we have while we are alive. We simply exist, as did Meursault. It becomes apparent, as the novella unfolds, that Meursault has ac quired an animal like indifference towards society. His interactions with his neighbour Raymond are an exercising of his indifferences. It never dawns upon Meursault that society does not condone his interactions with the pimp, avoided by his community. Meursault simply acts to fill his time. Being a single man, he has a lot of time to fill, and finds the weekends breathing out particularly slowly.