In the novel The stranger by Albert Camus the body is used to explore the theory of existentialism through two main characters. Existentialism is a philosophy of free creation where one believes that you create your own destiny. Salamano, and Raymond both exemplify characters that pursue legitimacy of their existence through the exploration of the body. From abusing a woman to acting cruelly towards a pet; both of these characters attempt to obtain control of their own lives. Camus conveys the idea that human existence is without order, throughout his work we see a culture that seeks to find meaning in an insignificant word. One of the main characters that use violence and the body in order to seek validity of his existence is Salamano. Salamano …show more content…
Readers are first introduced to Salamano when Meursault describes him as someone who “has reddish scabs on his face and wispy yellow hair. The dog, he’s sort of taken on his masters stooped look, muzzle down, neck straining. They look as if they belong to the same species.” (27). Salamano and his dog have been together for “eight years” doing the same routine walk that “never varied”(28). Meursault intensely describes the walk explaining how the dog “[pulls] his master along as hard as he can. Then (Salamano) beats his dog and calls it names”(28). A few moments later the dog forgets and he ends up receiving “another hiding and more abuse”(28). Meursault says, “every time they’re out, this happens.”(28). This constant abuse that the dog receives from Salamano is a clear representation of the need for reassurance of his existence as provided by his dog. The two continue to pull at each other throughout the walk in order to acknowledge that they exist. The existentialist idea that we construct our own essence through free will, choices and actions is something very prevalent in Salamano. He exhausts his free will, each time he …show more content…
Raymond is also one of Meursault’s neighbors who have a reputation that he is a pimp. Raymond believes his mistress is cheating on him, which is why he conjures up a plan to get revenge. In order to carry out the plan Raymond enlisted Meausalts help. Raymond says that he is “not one who looks for trouble…only .. a bit short tempered” . As part of his revenge Raymond physically beats up his mistress. Meursault describes, “some thuds, then a piercing scream that would make one’s blood run cold”(45). Raymond like Salamano needs his mistress to verify his existence in life. After Raymond found out there was “ dirty work going on [he] told her [he] would have nothing more to do with her”(38). Later in this passage Meaursaltu explains that Raymond “beat her till the blood came, before that he had never beaten her … not hard anyhow only affectionately-like. She’d howl a bit .....then of course it ended as per usual”(38). This abuse can be compared to the way Salamano beat his dog, in order to get justification of his existence. After Raymond finds out his mistress has stepped out on him , the same worry Salamano feels that is expressed through his “weeping” has turned into rage for Raymond. Raymond has repeatedly sought reassurance of his existence through
Mankind is placed at the top of the animal kingdom because of man’s ability to think and reason. Despite this ability, mankind seems incapable of moving past negative emotions and the greatest atrocities: hate, anger, abuse, and murder. For these reasons, some humans question the true nature of mankind. Some argue that humanity is no better than any other vile species and conclude that mankind is only a “beast.” However, as Albert Camus demonstrates in his novel The Stranger, the situation is more complex. Camus utilizes his character Salamano and his dog to demonstrate that humans have to parts. Salamano represents the ideal of a human and his dog represents that bad -- the part that humanity hates about itself. The novel’s protagonist, Meursault
The man represents the fraction of society that doesn't respect nature. He doesn't understand the power of nature because he is oblivious to it. On the other hand the dog was "told a truer tale than that was told to the man by the man's judgement." The man "did not know cold. Possibly all the generations of his ancestry had been ignorant of cold, of real cold." "The was no keen intimacy between the dog and the man." The man and the dog are together because the man needs the dog, and the dog has no choice. They have no emotional connection between them because the dog is used as a slave. In one part of the story the man uses the dog to test the trail and make sure that it is safe. The dog has more inherent knowledge about the area, all of his "ancestry knew" about the cold and the dangers of extreme cold. He also had a warm "natural covering" to keep him safe from the weather. The man was not used to the cold. He "was without imagination. He was quick and alert to the things of life, but only the things, and not the significances." He also was stubborn for his neglect to take advice.
Meursault’s atypical view of the world is first seen when at his mother’s funeral when he does not cry, but rather, he worries more about the heat of the day than the burden of burying his mother. His absurd view of the world is also apparent when Marie asks Meursault to marry her. Meursault looks at marriage, a life changing decision, with indifference, which does not make Marie stop loving him, but she does not understand how the man she loves can be so emotionally detached from her. Marie’s character represents those who are ‘normal’ in society because she outwardly shows her love for Meursault, and looks towards the future. She, unlike Meursault, does not just live within the moment.
Lopez’s writing is important to my paper because he documents the social and psychological history of human interactions with wolves. Mr. Lopez has been a highly respected authority on human and wolf interactions, and his first hand research for Of Wolves and Men was extensive. His recounting of the vicious and cruel treatment that wolves were subjected to documents the almost incomprehensible evil the human animal is capable of. This information helps present the mindset that many people have carried forward to today, and illustrates the irrational fear and hatred humans still exhibit when dealing with wolves. He gave a startling and alarming window into the human mind, and clearly demonstrates the resistance the wolf reintroduction and recovery efforts had to go up
| Describes the dog like a mutant, as if it’s a terrifying out of the normal dog
different dog, his underjaw’d began to stick out like the fo’castle of a steamboat,…” (The
I also don’t understand why Meursault had to write the letter to Raymond’s mistress. I hate Raymond. I hate him so much, his reasons for his violence are ridiculous. Is the book making a point that one’s complacency can be detrimental to others? I’m just wondering because Meursault is constantly talking about that poor dog, but never does anything. And when Raymond asks what his opinion was on his act of violence and Meursault stays indifferent. It’s ridiculous.
Despite never knowing what Meursault looks like, the reader is given deep insight into the workings of his mind. He fails to understand deep, human emotions as other characters of the story do and, as a result, regards and describes much of what occurs in the novel from a removed standpoint. While Meursault is vilified by the prosecution for his morals, he is an amoral character, and fails to make a distinction between good and bad, or moral and immoral actions, in his mind. He changes from someone who originally feels his indifference relates to himself alone to someone with the understanding of “the general indifference of the world.” In the concluding pages of the novel Meursault is able to finally accept his inevitable death
Lately, Marley showed unexpected guarding characteristics when John rushed to help some girl who was stabbed near his house. Somehow the dog itself understood the danger of the situation and transformed into a “completely different dog”. Because of crimes around the neighborhood, John worried for the safety of his growing son Patrick and his pregnant wife. They started to appreciate the big dog being in the house. Even though Marley was harmless, his presence made them feel secure.
Meursault was introduced as a young man whom recently found out his mother, Maman, died. He was not the most emotional person, but he dealt with his feelings the best he knew how. Meursault lived his life on the verge of truth and honesty. He was honest within every aspect of life, from women to freedom. He was never certain about anything in life ,but one thing he was sure of, death was inevitable. After murdering an Arab, he was on trial in front of many people being interrogated with many questions about why he did what he did, but also to evaluate his psyche about the situation. Unlike others, Meursault did not hide from the truth and that is what others could not cope with. Living his life the way others were afraid to, Meursault was the outcast in his society.
In the short story "The Guest" by Albert Camus, Daru's predicament goes hand in hand with France's difficulties and Camus' self-appreciation. In the short story “The Guest” we are introduced to see Daru’s concern to attend the political situation in the French North
By definition, protest is a form of objection or disapproval against a certain law or situation. In the world where sin and evilness never rest, protesting is essentially one of the many ways that Christians and non-Christians can temporarily preserve righteousness. Protesting is not merely an action that Christians should do nor it is against the teaching of the Bible. Protest serves as an opportunity provider in Christians’ life so that they can bring hope to the world as ambassador of Christ, spread the Gospel, glorify Him.
First, I am going to analyze the dog’s relationship with the man. the man is on his way to meet the boys with his only companion, a wolf dog which represents the bond we have with nature. The dog relies on the man to provide warmth by fire and the man needs the dog for his instincts. I believe the that since it is a wolf dog it has both traits as a wild wolf and a domesticated dog. It is like a gateway between humanity and nature which allows us to be a part of it. The dog never left the man’s side because he needed him. The man however, the attempted to kill the dog to spare his life. The man also sent the dog across the lake knowing that the dog’s instincts could get him across. The man heavily relied on the dog for his survival and was willing to sacrifice him for the man’s
Widely recognized for philosophical writings as a French essayist and playwright, Albert Camus is a major contributor to exploring the absurd in modern Western literature. Characterized by highlighting the human condition, Camus’ writing style focuses on the everyday lives and inner psyche of individuals in both ordinary and extraordinary circumstances. Such a character-driven writing style is most notably displayed in his 1946 work, The Stranger, a tale of an emotionally-detached man known as Meursault, who lives in French-colonized Algiers during the intermission of the two World Wars. Consisting of two parts—The Stranger first explores his daily life as a free man, and in the second, delves more into the character’s own philosophy as Meursault contemplates during his remaining time in jail. At its core, the story explores the relationships and interactions of the odd Meursault through the character’s inner monologue and dialogue with those around him. The story itself is very ambiguous in its’ nature, and the idea of contemplating the meaning of life and purpose is prevalent throughout The Stranger. Evidently, Camus writes Meursault as a man who believes that life has no meaning, and therefore people are free to do as they please. To supplement the protagonist’s view, the author also presents Meursault alongside various personalities of key supporting characters, each with their own unique personality, and differing outlooks on life. Doing so thus enables Camus to get readers to contemplate about meaning through multiple perspectives. Stylistically, through many devices that emphasize diction, imagery, and story themes. Ultimately, The Stranger is a way for Camus to convey that there are multiple ways to perceive the meaning of life, using Meursault to directly project a different view than what readers are used to. Surely, with the intent of crafting a protagonist so strange, that Meursault becomes comparable to other characters; less so as a reflection of what the author personally believes the meaning of life is, but more of what such exploration of the idea could be.
The same moment I decided to quicken my speed, a deer burst through the night. I screamed, stumbled and hit the ground with a loud thump. I sat on the moist ground for a moment to try to recover but my heart began to throb as if it was beating within my throat. It was just a deer I told myself, I had to be brave. Trying to get myself together I began to feel this hot puffs of air on the back of my neck. “It’s the goblin!” I screamed as I rapidly rose to my feet. My head spun like an owl as I went to look for what was behind me. I looked to the ground and discovered a little white dog. “You scared me to death little guy. What is a cute little puppy like you doing in a dense forest like this?” I said to him. I was relieved it was only a dog instead of the ghastly goblin, but I only made it half-way home by then. As I proceeded on the white little dog followed me. I felt more at ease now that I had him following me but he would not be considered much of a watch dog to most