The Stranger

Keats' Philosophy of Life And Death A man who avoids death will never mature, and he will never profoundly understand and solve the problem of existence. In life, people inevitably encounter a variety of problems, the limited life and unlimited desires, the eternal desire to live with the inevitable death of the fate of the contradictions, etc., contained in the lives of everyone , Thus constituting the predicament of human existence. Life and death, as a phenomenon, reflects people's concern…

The central idea of the poem “Futility” by Wilfred Owen is war. Owen’s choice of title ‘Futility” highlights his views on the subject. That being - war is pointless and bears no honour or glory. Owen stresses that war only causes destruction and death. The poem is about a soldier who has recently died on the front line of the war. Although we as readers do not know who the dead soldier is; it appears that the speaker knows him and his background well. The speaker wants to move the soldier’s…

French-Algerian philosopher, author, and journalist, Albert Camus’ literary works are often reflective of the catastrophic effects of WWII and the Algerian War for Independence had on the state of the human condition. Camus’ background as an Algerian journalist, as well as his role in the French resistance during World War II, form the foundation of his belief in the possibility of the triumph of human value in response to the experience of the absurd. This notion of the absurdity of the human…

“The Myth of Sisyphus,” by Albert Camus, addresses the importance of choosing to find value in life despite life being meaningless due to the inevitability of death, or in other words, absurd. Through the motif of consciousness and the paradox of powerlessness and rebelliousness, that convey the idea that consciousness and rebellion are interdependent, Camus suggests that consciousness of the absurdity of life allows the tragedy of the situation, that life is meaningless, to be transformed into…

The hot sun beat down on the sand making our protagonists mood change with the sweltering heat and angst crashing against Meursault like waves on the beach. Three aspects affect his mood; temperature, weather, and light. These affect Meursault, but do not necessarily make him a more sympathetic character. His existential crisis makes him less open to the indifference of the world until the end of the novel when he is sentenced to death and finally opens himself up. Temperature…

At first, she tried to get the attention of anyone who would stop and look at her. Unfortunately, these were the same people who worked in the carnival. They seemed unimpressed and unmoved by her pleas. Perhaps they all knew already what went on in that tent, or maybe they just didn’t care that some strange girl was begging for help. And if she thought she might get help from one of the attendees, she was wrong. Reaching out, Ruby Ann stopped a young couple. They looked a little embarrassed to…

In the very first line of the novel elevates the absurdist concept, " My mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. I received a telegram from the old people's home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Very sincerely yours.' That doesn't mean anything. It might have been yesterday '' This is not a normal reaction of a son to the news of his mother’s death. In the very first lines we find Mesusault’s strangeness to the normal feelings and emotions. Camus has portrayed a distance…

Analysis of themes in Don DeLillos novel White Noise. Reality versus fabrication. An obvious theme within DeLillos novel White Noise is the conflict between reality and fabrication. For example, this applies well to Jack and his altering personalities. Even though Jack has created a respected, intellectual identity for himself through the character of J.A.K. Gladney, professor in the studies of Hitler, he remains awkwardly aware of the fact that this entire character is a lie. In reality, the…

In an ideal world everything would be accomplished the first time around. Additional attempts would not be required if things did not go wrong, but unfortunately that is not how life works. Sometimes we falter and face hurdles along the way. Sometimes others are responsible for the troubles we face. There are a plethora of things that could go wrong but only one needs to to stop us in our tracks. Charlie, the protagonist of Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is no exception…

Imagine a world where nobody lets you in, and you can’t feel connected despite your best efforts. This is what Holden Caulfield experiences in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Holden can’t find or reach the connections he wants because the other people in his life won’t let him in, and Holden pushes people away when he doesn’t feel safe from himself and the outside world. Throughout the book, Holden feels depressed. This is the result of isolation and alienation affecting Holden by not…