The Stranger essay

After having seen Meursault in various situations most people would consider frighteningly immoral I have come to the conclusion that his lack of emotion and engagement with his surrounding peers has made his perception of the world a bit distorted and deprived of what actual human engagement and reality is. As the readers, we are left with missing pieces that should purposely make us find our own path to take when reading The Stranger. My question is "If Meursault were more engaging and emotionally captivated by his surroundings, would the story be told differently?"

Thesis: Meursault's lack of emotional and interest driven presence prevents the reader from truly experiencing everything that occurs to him in his life.

Translator's Note

                    As read in the Translator's note, the absence or lack of emotions, motives and even morality that Meursault demonstrates in The Stranger is more significant than it may appear to the reader. It is through this lack of presence and natural human tendencies that Camus invites us to put ourselves in Meursault's inner being and imagine what is is that makes him tick. By putting ourselves in the depths  of Meursault's conscious we are one step closer to getting to know the seemingly dry and absent Meursault for who he truly is. I personally have yet to have said discovery but I a staying optimistic. The closest thing I've seen to a moral compass was when Meursault was invited by Raymond to joking him at the whorehouse and refused. He had seemed so adamant about his friendship with Raymond that for a while it seemed impossible to have him say no.

The Stranger

                   Every author has his or her own writing style which portrays the story or concept they are trying to translate to the reader. While both Kafka and Conrad go into depth when describing the inner most feelings and sentiments of their protagonists, Camus seems to barely scratch the emotional surface that the complex Monsieur Meursault seems to hide from the world. After further analyzing, one can see can this style of disengagement and reservation as a reflection on Camus himself. Is he himself a man of few words and no real sentimental connections to anyone, not even his own mother? I see this as a complete polar opposite to Kafkah's writing style in Metamorphosis. In Metamorphosis,  the lack of attention and acknowledgement the main character receives from his family after his transformation is deeply affecting him. One can read the emotional thirst the poor Gregor feels through Kafkah's explicit use of a style full of want and longing.

Middle Sex v. Middlesex

                   My free read Middlesex by Jennifer Eugenides is a journey of self discovery through a journal style piece. Compared to the more dramatic Metamorphosis by Kafka, Middlesex evokes more of a personal experience to the reader, allowing for a fully engaging reading experience. In Metamorphosis, the main character experiences a dramatically unexpected change in both physical appearance and mobility. I feel as though my free read, Middlesex, can attest to the transformative nature of Metamorphosis through its in depth and personal analysis of transgender life.
                  In Kafka's Metamorphosis, the dark and urban setting of the main character's transformation puts the experience in a different persepective. The isolation and denial that both the main character and his family undergo is extremely visible in the Kafka's writing style. For example "the lack of all immediate human contact" that Gregor, experience as a disgusting vermin is seen here when his family fundamentally isolates him and stops caring for him and his room. The sense of emotion and depression is definitely seen here through Kafka's language and style.

Genesis and Darwin

               Although both the biblical Genesis and Darwin's theory of evolution speak of the origins of mankind and any form of life for that matter, there are extreme differences in language one notices when further analyzing each text. Genesis, the biblical creation story, tells us that God carefully worked over a span of seven days to create the entire world as we know it. When analyzed further one sees that this creation story can be interpreted as a childhood bedtime story. The chronological order is described very simply, "And God said" "So God created..." , as if to appeal to and be comprehended by people of all ages. The fact that this is a biblical text puts its purpose into an entirely different perspective. As the first text read when reading a bible or torah, Genesis sets the stage for the modern world and its language and tone dictates rather discreetly to the reader what God created and what He wanted said creations to do. This forever puts a burden on the reader by placing God's expectations and wishes upon their shoulders. Who would dare defy the word of God?
                As for Darwin's theory of evolution, the text reads as a more humble approach to a scientific epiphany. When reading the text one sees that Darwin seems rather afraid in his language and expects  backlash from this text, something I'm sure he received shortly after publishing his theory. Darwin's publication comes from an extremely different standpoint, one of humility and vulnerability. A scientist whose's theory might possibly revolutionize the world versus religious dictation is a striking difference. This difference provides the reader with a different interoperation and sees Darwin's theory as more of an optional faith, "I by no means expect to convince experienced naturalists", whereas the biblical Genesis is a metaphorically shoved down one's throat because it is what God commanded.
                Two strikingly different texts that speak of the same topic through radically different interpretations have revolutionized our train of thought when contemplating our origin and the meaning of all existence. Whether one chooses to believe in Darwin's theory or Genesis is entirely up to the person but one thing is clear, the means and styles through which these beliefs are communicated are radically different.

Free Read

I honestly love my free read book! It's so interesting and culturally stimulating. I mean a Greek transvestite is pretty dynamic... The book is written like a memoir and that's one of the best things about for me.

Interpret the Ending

           The ending to Metamorphosis by Kafka left me with many unanswered questions... I couldn't grasp the situation in an instant but after further analyzing the events that transpired  I came to realize that one can interpret this sadly strange ending in a couple of very different ways. For instance, one could see Gregor's death as the heartless nature of the world. He was just another poor and worn out soul that met his end when the vicious cycle of life came for him. I would rather interpret it as such than what I'm about to suggest. Another possible interpretation of this very unfortunate ending is that Gregor never gave up supporting for his family. If one delve into the actual blue print of the situation in which the Samsas found themselves in when Gregor became an insect one sees that Gregor led to his family's epiphany for independent success. If it weren't for Gregor's transformation the Samsas would have never been able to experience the joys they experienced as their own providers! They've all come to know the value of their labor and they are past the point of leaching off Gregor. They've even gone as far as to consider Gregor the pest when they themselves were in that very position beforehand. In conclusion I see the ending to Metamorphosis as a sacrifice; an unconscious sacrifice that had to transpire in order for the the Samsas to learn their lesson of self reliance. This forced teaching seemed to work and the bright future of possible marriage and success the book ends on further proves the point that in order for all of this to happen, Gregor had to give of himself till the very end in order to ensure his family's well being. He had to give up his body in order for his sister to metamorphisize "into a beautiful and voluptuous young woman."  Gregor's carcass was the offering needed to allow his sister to full develop and embrace her "young body."