Albert Camus: Written Assignment Essay

During the interactive oral, we discussed the main theme of the meaninglessness of military man animateness that is present in The Stranger by Albert Camus. We emphasized chiefly on Meursaults detached and unemotional characteristics, especially when the jury uses this against him at his trial He stated that I had no place in a lodge whose most fundamental rules I ignored (102). Meursault is very isolated from his society, and during his trial all the odds atomic number 18 non in his favor because in this case Meursault is viewed as a minority when compared to the Arabs in Algeria. make up the prosecutor claims that Meursault does not feel remorse ab come out of the closet killing the Arab, and this connects to the theme of the meaninglessness of human life, where Meursaults feelings towards this entire case is mutual and religion, life, and death does not matter to him. In reference to the title, we also pinpointed that Meursault acts as the stranger when placed in this socie ty because he is disconnected and does not belong in this normal society, he is seen an outsider.And, we concluded that the character conflicts are targeted towards man versus society and man versus self. Because it is clear that Meursault does what amenities him the most instead of pleasing others and bothering to care about what every wizard thinks about him. A major cultural involve that is presented in this novel is the paper ofreligion and the image of the elderly. Based on the first chapter, we learn that Meursault puts his mother in an old peoples home, however, later we realize that the jury found this unacceptable. This gave Meursault a blemish against his murder case because in this society, it is morally wrong to put an elder relative in an elderly home.Also during the seminar we mentioned how religion plays an important role in this society, especially when the lawyer, the judge, and the priest tries to persuade Meursault into turning to religion, however, he does no t believe that God exists and the judge even calls him Monsieur Antichrist (71). When he refuses to believe in God, it connects to the idea that life is meaningless and God does not replace the absurd significance of human life. Overall I learned that there are many cultural obligations that Meursault conflicts with in The Stranger and with these pressures he struggles to face his society.An analysis of the symbolic significance of the motif of the temperatenessbathe in The StrangerThe powerful effect of light can crop a shadow and blind those who come across its path. Power, especially too much, can influence the behavior of others and it can deceive people especially those who are different and follow a strange path from everyone else. Meursault in The Stranger, for example, is know as an outcast due to his actions and beliefs of life. However, he is a victim of the overpowering impact of light, he loses his way and the shadow of light influences his actions. In his novel, The Stranger, Albert Camus creates an intense atmosphere through and through his use of the lie as a motif. He accomplishes this by apply the sun as the personification of Meursaults inner emotions, the powerful imagery of the murder scene, and Meursaults internal conflict.Throughout the novel, Camus uses the motif of the sun to construct the intensity level of the atmosphere during ramify one of the novel. The sun plays a role in influencing Meursaults feelings especially when the sun is described as unendurable on the twenty-four hour period of Mamans funeral and today, with the sun bearing down, making the whole landscape shimmer with heat, it was inhuman and oppressive (15). Camus uses a pathetic fallacy in his description of the sun as oppressive and inhuman. This helps to illustrate the suns devilish characteristics as its powerful impact that allows Meursault to forget about Mamans death. Also Meursault is known to be a very indifferent and unemotional character however, wh enever the sun is opposing him, it affects his behavior and allows him to express his emotions about his surroundings and this contributes to the intensity of atmosphere.Another authoritative passage is when Meursault longs for shade and to be far away from the oppressive heat I was thinking of the cool spring behind the rock. I wanted to lift up the murmur of its peeing again, to escape the sun and the strainand to find shade at last (57). This cadence the sun influences Meursaults yearning desire to evaporate away from the sun and this foreshadows Meursaults desperate actions in killing the Arab. As the sun gets stronger, so does Meursaults discomfort, and this reoccurring relationship symbolizes that the effect of the suns unbearable heat enhances Meursaults desire to escape its penetrating fit. In addition, the powerful strength of the sun returns and it contributes in building up to the climax of the novel It was this burning, which do me move forward (59).The effect of the sun compels Meursault in killing the Arab with no intentions or reasons influencing his sudden action when his anxiety is released as he pulls the trigger. Camus uses the heat and the lour of the sun as a tool to release Meursaults repressed emotions. Despite Meursaults indifference towards his wrong doings, his actions and emotions, which the sun has possessed over him, do not explain Meursaults irrational intent to surprisingly shoot the Arab and this connects to a major theme of the irrationality of the universe, which deprives Meursault from acting reasonability. Furthermore, the authors intentions in personifying the suns possessive effect over Meursaults emotions and irrational motives are to convey an intense atmosphere and its power to influence Meursault actions.Towards the end of part one of the novel, the author illustrates the build upto the murder scene through the use of vivid descriptions and kinesthetic and visual imagery of the blazing sun in order to portray a n overall atmosphere of the intense portrayals of spirit and weather. When Meursault prevents Raymond from starting a bloody war with the Arabs, Raymond gives him the grease-gun and Meursault notices that The sun glinted make Raymonds gun as he handed it to me(56). This natural selection foreshadows the significance of the sun and gun since both items are associated with murdering the Arab, and these two items initiate the murder. Camus briefly mentions the sun glinting off the gun as a way to illustrate their connection and importance in the death scene, also the author focuses on pinpointing details about the sun and its powerful effects in order to create an intense atmosphere by emphasizing the suns visual descriptions.After the skin surrounded by Raymond and the Arab, Meursault takes a walk on the beach and he sees the Arab flashing his knife and this blinds Meursault as he illustrates that The light shot off the steel and it was like a long flashing blade cutting at my f orehead (59). The author exemplifies the light intensity of the reflection of the blade to be blinding and painful through the use of both kinesthetic and visual imagery. This passage is significant in demonstrating the powerful effect of the sun and its strength in pushing Meursault to defy the limitations against nature. Even moments before Meursault pulls the trigger, tension begins to rise as if nature is pushing Meursault into killing the Arab The sea carried up a thick, fiery breath. It seemed to me as if the sky spilt open from one end to the other to rain down fire (59). The use of diction such as thick, fiery evokes the intensity of visual imagery and the personification of the sun serves to enhance the suns powerful influence over Meursaults mind and unconscious actions.Perhaps nature is symbolically pressuring Meursault to murder the Arab and Camus surprisingly illustrates the time and setting of this scene in this way in order for it to come as a shock and therefore to s upport the concept of nature and its universal impact. Overall, the murder scene displays an intense illustration of Meursaults surroundings through the use of kinesthetic and visual imagery of the suns power and control which helps develop a powerful environment. Particularly, the entire novel is based on the major conflict between Meursault and himself this internal conflict portrays an intensive atmosphere that is delineated through the influence of nature and weather,which is depicted throughout the novel. In the beginning of the novel, the nurse at Mamams funeral gives Meursault significant advice when she says, If you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church. She was right. There was no way out (17). The nurses advice symbolizes that Meursaults self-conflict with the sun is unavoidable just as Meursaults fate is inescapable such as when he fails to find slipway to escape from his death senten ce.The author decides to mention this passage to foreshadow Meursaults unforeseen fate because Meursaults murderous action is an unexpected plot twist, and this embodies natures powerful control over men, in which in this case it is between the sun and Meursault. Meursaults battle with overcoming the heat of the sun is mainly demonstrate especially when tension is high such as when the group of Arabs is walking towards Meursault, Raymond, and Masson The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable (52). As the scene begins to become more intense, the fight between Meursault and the weather becomes stronger as well, and this is demonstrated when Meursault describes his frustration from the suns intolerable heat. This excerpt clearly shows that Meursaults constant war with his emotions and nature is powerful in connection with the intense atmosphere and since Meursault is unable to conquer the overpowering heat, it that causes him to kill the Arab and he gives in to the suns compelling control.Also before Meursaults trial, he even states that I knew as soon as the weather off hot that something new was in store for me (82). Since Meursault did not know how much longer the judge would sentence him in prison, this passage did foreshadow that his trial would not turn out well. This again relates to the idea that when tension is high, the war between the suns heat and Meursaults emotions is also intensified and Camus uses the motif of the sun to indicate that nature is against Meursault and to foreshadow Meursaults fate. In conclusion, the influence of nature and weather as well as the motif of the sun and the role it plays to fight against Meursaults internal emotions establishes an intensified setting.Unfortunately, mankind is overpowered by nature and the force of the light pushes Meursault to his breaking point. Meursault is unaware of the sunsinfluential effect, however he is impacted by its controlling powe r. In the end, the suns strength forces Meursault to commit an immoral crime and even though his reasons are unintentional, he is rejected by society and is sentenced to a death penalty. The use of the motif of the sun in The Stranger by Albert Camus, develops a powerful atmosphere through the idea that the sun personifies Meursault by influencing his actions and feelings, the intense imagery of the murder scene, and Meursaults inner conflict against the sun.Works CitedCamus, Albert, and Matthew Ward. The Stranger. New York Vintage International, 1989. Print.