Essay on The Stranger Changes in Meursault - 994 Words

In The Stranger, Albert Camus describes the life of the protagonist, Meursault, through life changing events. The passage chosen illustrates Meursault’s view during his time in prison for killing the Arab. In prison, one can see the shifts in Meursault’s character and the acceptance of this new lifestyle. Camus manipulates diction to indicate the changes in Meursault caused by time thinking of memories in prison and realization of his pointless life. Because Camus published this book at the beginning of World War II, people at this time period also questions life and death similar to how Meursault does. Diction shows the difference in Meursault’s views and beliefs as he spends more and more time in prison, adapts to his new lifestyle,†¦show more content†¦One can also notice the negative connotation of the words the author manipulates to imply Meursault’s unhappiness in prison. In this passage, the shift in Meursault’s growth in self reflec tion when he looks at his reflection on the tin plate, shows his recognition of himself. He observes and understand himself when he looks directly at himself unlike before. It’s in this passage that Meursault finally recognizes himself and his voice, â€Å"I, distinctly heard the sound of my own voice. I recognized it as the same one that had been ringing in my ears...and I recognized that all that time I had been talking to myself† (81). The importance of Meursault’s recognition of his voice symbolizes his understanding of himself. Until now, Meursault lived his life without the recognition of himself or his voice. This significant change shows Meursault’s beginning to understand himself, his views or philosophies, and his life as he spends more and more time in prison. Meursault’s unending days in prison confirms his realization of meaninglessness of life. For Meursault, the days in prison â€Å"ended up flowing into one another† seeming e ndless, symbolizing he was trapped. In prison, he understands where his life is headed and the meaninglessness of life, â€Å"For me it was one and the same unending day that was unfolding in my cell and the same thing I was trying to do† (81). This shows how life is same thing over and over again and just a series of events and choices forShow MoreRelatedChanges in Reader Opinion on Meursault Throughout Albert Camus’ The Stranger653 Words   |  3 PagesIn Albert Camus’ The Stranger, Meursault is seen as a very unique character, but not in a good way. Throughout the novel, he continually fails to show normal human emotions to things like his mother’s death, Marie’s love, and the man he killed. Most people in his town, along with the reader at first, are not able to reason out his actions but as the final events of the novel unfold, the reader begins to see Meursault in a different light. The novel starts out with Meursault getting a telegram sayingRead MoreEssay Theory of the Absurd1667 Words   |  7 Pagesthe human personality, exemplified by The Stranger and â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus.† Camus redefines the absurd by envisioning the â€Å"absurd† as a world consisting of â€Å"the struggle to find meaning where none exists† (Albert). In The Stranger, Camus writes about a man named Meursault, who one day is notified that his mother passed away. Shockingly, Meursault does not show any tears of sorrow or grief as the funeral of his own mother. A week later, Meursault develops a romance with the lovely Marie,Read MoreAnalysis Of Meursault A Stranger To Society1026 Words   |  5 PagesMeursault, a man living in Algiers, takes a bus to Marengo to attend his mother’s funeral after receiving a telegram. After the funeral, he seems unaffected by her death and he briefly describes his outing with Marie, his co-worker. 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