Albert Camus

him or her to become more aware of the real world. The short story, “The Guest” by Albert Camus is the epitome of such interpretative literature. Even though Erikson’s psychosocial theory is disparate when compared with “The Guest” as a whole, it is only logical that it be used to critically analyze particular aspects of the development of the characters through the decisions they make…

"The Guest" is a short story that displays multiple examples of irony, Albert Camus uses irony to get his theme across. The theme being, making what one believes is the right moral choice despite the consequences. This theme heavily reflects Camus' philosophical logic, he strongly believed in one's responsibility for their wrongdoings. In the short story, Daru has multiple choices to make, he has been given the choice to deliver the Arab to prison- respecting and obeying the government's rules.…

The Plague is a novel by Albert Camus that was written in 1947, two years after the end of World War II. Through close analysis of its formal qualities it is evident that the text can be read in three different ways. Literally, as a narrative of a pestilence, as a historic allegory of German occupation of France during World War II, and finally, as a presentation of a metaphysical problem, evil. However, this essay will discuss the literal and allegorical readings of the novel. The Plague can…

The idea of a trial is for a victim to get justice and for a criminal to be punished for his or her crime. The way that the punishment is decided depends on the jury and on the judges chosen to listen to the case. The novel The Stranger by Albert Camus is based on a man who is charged with premeditated murder and sentenced to death by guillotine. The book starts off with the death of the central character, Meursault’s, mother. In the very beginning of the book we are introduced to Meursault’s…

Existentialism, as a branch of philosophy, would suggest that the correspondent has recognized the “absurdity” in life. Absurdity is the frustration people encounter when their human instinct to seek order, purpose, and meaning is challenged by the refusal of the world to be orderly or meaningful. Indeed, the narrator states “The whole affair is absurd” (Crane 212). Robert C. Solomon, in his book Existentialism, further illuminates the narrator’s state: The existential attitude is, first of all…

Nagel belief is that everything is absurd in life. He believes that life has no tangible meaning and there is no reason why we should think we could make life meaningful at all. But, we continue to live with defiance, despair, or with an ironic smile. Life is not as important as we had once thought, but that is not a reason to hate life or to feel sadness. Nagel does not believe that life is absurd is about life meaning nothing because it will mean nothing in the distant future. He says “In…

Willy’s death is avoidable. He fills himself with imaginary thoughts that are distinctively different from the world of realities. He lives in a wishful world rather than focusing on the present situations. This is illustrated by his desire to give in to the pressures of modern America, characterized by material things such as new appliances. Willy’s proud and selfish nature largely contributed to his ultimate death as well, as he cannot accept his failures. He further ends up betraying his…

Stephen Crane questions man's fate in this world through naturalism. In "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets," Crane shows the helplessness of one's state in relation to poverty, and in "The Open Boat," Crane shows the helplessness of one's state in relation to nature. Crane emphasizes the essence that forces, such as poverty and nature, are not adversaries to man, but rather that they are simply forces that are apathetic towards man. "Maggie: A Girl of the Streets" can be a downer, but it is…

“Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.” This quote extracted from Waiting for Godot, an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett that premiered on 5 January 1953, holds the essence of absurdist theatre and what its playwrights seek to express- the inescapable meaningless and futility of life. The origins of absurdist theatre are commonly linked to the avant-garde experimentations of the 19th century, but there has been speculation that there were traces of absurdist theatre in works…

and authority, and also his indifference and coldness to the man he is trying to break. His figure is stiff, his posture is perfect and he only makes quick deliberate movements. His face is completely emotionless, adding again to how little empathy he has towards a man who is married and has children, and who has done nothing violent in nature. The room around him is drab, dull, ugly, empty and harsh. Wiesler, with the cold colors of his uniform matching the cold colors of the room, seems to…