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Comparing The Stranger To Anthem, By Albert Camus

Decent Essays

The dictionary defines a hero as “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.” In comparing The Stranger to Anthem, both protagonists go against societal norms, and it is up to the reader to determine if that brave opposition is heroic. In The Stranger, by Albert Camus, the main character, Meursault, is emotionally inept. Every thing he does appears empty, there is never a passion or excitement or even a real reason behind it. However, he remains consistent throughout the novel in this cool, calculated way. He stays very true to himself, even when it's not convenient. When the magistrate is hammering Meursault about religion, Meursault narrates that he draws “himself up to his full height and [asked] me if I believed in God. I said no. (69)” He will not submit to satisfy the whims of others' moral questions. Eventually, he comes to terms with his inevitable death. It is this …show more content…

After attempting to better his community through his brilliant ideas and discoveries, Equality is rejected and shunned. His thoughts of the event reflect his first independent ideas of self against the society, “No single one can possess greater wisdom than the many Scholars... Yet we can. We do. (54)” He acknowledges the thought of being different from others, maybe better, something his society despises and shames. With his equally rebellious partner, the two decide to run away from their repressive world, eventually discovering the word I and the idea of oneself with limitless freedom they hope to spread to their sons and friends. Equality 7-2521 can be seen as a self-centered rebel that runs away from his problems, far from being a hero. However, he can also be interpreted as the free thinker that is brave enough to question authority and create his own destiny. Equality 7-2521 is just as ambiguosly good or bad as

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