Franz Kafka and Albert Camus Essay

He alienates himself from the other characters because he does non feel the way they do. Meursault does non hide this from his companions. A minute later on she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didnt blotto anything provided that I didnt think so. When Marie, Meursaults lover, tries to express herself to him, he can non comprehend the wound up implications she is trying to ex feed. His answer, though honest, is cold and detached. This idea that love doesnt mean anything is later expressed once Meursault comes to the conclusion that human existence is meaningless.This is a popular existential belief. He pushes himself away from other people by not reacting to their emotions. However, unlike Gregor Samsa of The Metamorphosis, people surround Meursault. His friends distribute about him and tend to him. It is he who chooses to remain alone. Marie tries desperately to connect to this man, and yet is so distant from his heart. His actions and his attitude reflect someone who wants to be left alone, unsayd in his accept thoughts and in his own daily routine. The existential theme of privateness is prominent in both The Metamorphosis and The Stranger.However, the protagonists react differently to their own isolation. Gregor demonstrates an attachment to his family. He is unaware of the alienation that has enwrapped his life. He isolates himself from his family but fluid worries and cares for them. Each day is routine for him and he is not spiteful of his transformation or the state of being he has become. He expresses concerns for his sis and her well being. He cared for his family as demonstrated in his financial maintain for them. Gregor wanted his family to be happy. He worked diligently to provide for them and to ensure that they had a decent life.Meursault, however, does not go out of his way to ensure the triumph of his companions. He come to terms that human existence is meaningless. He sends his silly mother to a home and does not visit h er. He does not care about her well being, and after her death expresses to others that he did not feel badly about not visiting her in the execrable home where he forced her to go. When Marie goes out of her way to visit him in jail, Meursault still does not care. He feels no need to apologize to her and does not think that he owes her anything. One would think that her adulation would at least be acknowledged.though Gregor may not care to be close to his family he still demonstrates a sense of responsibility to take care of them. Meursault lacks all responsibility for himself and others. The Stranger and The Metamorphosis demonstrate the act of secrecy between the dickens protagonists. Gregor Samsa isolated himself from his family and society by lock his doors to the orthogonal world and creeping into dark corners where he could hide himself. Meursault disregards the emotions of the people in his life and does not care whether or not they are a part of his life.Gregor is ali enated by his family, while Meursault chooses to be secluded from society. Though Gregor did demonstrate MeursaultGregor tentative longings to be alone (his subconscious act of locking his bedroom door while even at home), he still cared for the lives of his family. He made an effort to provide financially to them. Meursault secluded himself from those who well-tried to get close to him. He was a selfish character who could not even be bothered to care for the life of his own mother. The compassions of the two men, or lack there of, are what separate themselves for each other. two Kafka and Camus demonstrate the existential idea that human beings have the capability to seclude themselves from society and the people around them.Seclusion As An Existential penning In Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis And Albert Camus The Stranger Eileen Carey IB World Lit 1 March 2003 Mrs. Lindner Bibliography Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis. Dover Pubns (June 1996). Camus, Albert. The Stranger. Vintag e Books Reissue adaptation (March 1989) Mirriam-Webster. Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary. Merriam-Webster, Inc. 10th edition (1998).