Absurdism And Existentialism In Their Novels English Literature Essay

Absurdism And Existentialism In Their Novels English Literature EssayThe theme of absurdism used by Franz Kafka and Albert Camus does adequate justice to bring out the pathos in both The Outsider and The Metamorphosis by Albert Camus and Franz Kafka. They render the unsettling conception of the both the protagonists. The present situation of the narrators brings to behavior incidents that justify their unpleasant situations and what they be going finished in their respective lives. Where existentialism questions mans man in a particular cordial system absurdist investigates characters that are placed in society that is devoid of God and how syllogism and parody loom large over the consummate situation. Hence The Outsider and Metamorphoses have existentialism and absurdism as the philosophical tools that take these stories ahead.In The Outsider, for instance, Mersault does not distress the death of his fuck off except instead goes to watch a comedy film and indulges in a love affair with his girlfriend while In The Metamorphosis Gregor wakes up to find himself transformed into a vermin and his tone changes from that point on. The effect of the absurdism soon takes over the lives of both the characters unwittingly and they are set about with questions about their take man which makes both the novels existentialist in their themes. Existentialist philosophy in a way proves the importance of human individuality and liberty.Camus concretizes an absurdly dramatic write up of a man who has no emotions in him evidently in the opening lines Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I dont know. I had a telegram from the home Mother passed away. Funeral tomorrow. Yours sincerely. That doesnt mean anything. It may have been yesterday. He- does not even feel stimulate to justify his reason behind such odd and discourteous avoiding of any emotional involvement. Speaking in brief with the director of the home, Mersault tells him that he did not feel any guil t at having sent his mother away. He even declines an invitation to view the body, but keeps vigil with it overnight, in accordance with the custom. When asked by the undertaker how old his mother was, he replies Fairly, for in truth he doesnt know her exact age. His going for a swim with a woman of his acquaintance at an inopportune time proves once again futility of his life.As an embodiment of absurdism, Mersault doesnt translate any need to fulfill or dispel the discomfort from the minds of the population as his nature was in truth offending to other people. He seemed completely inhuman, and never believed it was important to live up to the expectations of others and follow etiquette. fit in to me, every human being goes through the descriptor of unpleasant and embarrassing situations Mersault and Gregor face but it in the main depends on how a writer decides to detail and sketch these characters.There is a funeral procession, in the heat of the day, crosswise the parched, sun-drenched landscape, and once again, Mersault is distur put out by the light, the sun, and the heat, and feels unable to concentrate. This uncanny effect to the point of blinding ones mickle evinces unjustifiable discomfort Mersault exudes towards the society.The Outsider is set in Algiers, where our protagonist Mersault, who was a bachelor, is leading a life that questions his existence. He does not show any interest in his job and does not believe in socializing with other people around him. As the tale goes ahead, the reader gets to see the quirkiness of Mersault towards the manhood with conflicting emotions that make him commit a deadly crime. This marked nature of Mersault is brought out in the autobiography in many incidents in the book one of them being in chapter four where he is not at all concerned about Raymond torturing his wife. He responds matter of factlyAt about 3 in the morning there was a knock on my door and Raymond came in. I didnt get up. I sit at the edg e of my bed. He didnt say anything for a minute and I asked him how it had gone. He told me that he had do what he wanted to do but shed slapped him and so hed beaten her up. Id seen the rest. I told him I estimate that this time shed really been punished and he ought to be pleased. Mersaults brusque attitude towards other people around him reckons him as an outcast.I feel that the writers philosophical stance is unique, as he puts immense violence on the belief of absurdism and we need to understand what absurdism is ? Absurdist fable is the manifestation of certain beliefs that dominated the works of a number of playwrights during the middle of the 19th century. This form of fiction implies that in a world that is devoid of God, the existence of human being shall have no strong foundation, it would be meaningless. The absurd elements in such plays and fiction were the fact that man has been thrust into a world where he cannot survive on his own instincts but is maneuvered by a force invisible to him. He is caught up in paradoxical situations and finds no set back by communicating or logical action. His actions and dialogues turn out to be a mockery of his own existence.The best part about the narrative is that it does not preach with a message but at the same time does tend to ask us some important questions about humans and their social existence. The narrative is kept simple but is compelling nevertheless. Therefore, the work is a reflection of Camuss moral axiom. equal Camus, Kafka too was existentialist and adapted to an absurdist way in carrying the narrative of his stories ahead as traces of his style are evident in his letter to Max Brod.In Franz Kafkas The Metamorphosis, the absurdist and existentialist elements form the main parts of Kafkas narrative. The story begins with the line When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found that he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug. After realizing that his life would ne ver be the same again Gregor arises realizing certain truths about his existence which had not come to his realization forrader. He starts to reflect on his own being. Till the day before he had been a hardworking salesman who looked after his family but now he cannot continue the same life anymore. Now after Gregors transformation his parents and sister realize that they shall now have to look after Gregor and start making a living of their own. This leads Gregor into a state of depression which he can only prise but cannot do anything about it. His family is robbed of happiness and normalcy and though they are trying their best to pick out with it, their disparity is clearly evident in these lines of the second chapter- Now his sister working with her mother had to do the cooking too of course that did not cause her much trouble since they hardly ate anything. Gregor was unceasingly hearing one of them pleading in vain with one of the others to eat and getting no resolutenes s except thanks, Ive had enough or something similar. They all knew the unpleasantness they had to confront but none of them had an answer to it.I regard that both the stories are existentialist and absurd in their narratives, and they both create a long long-lived impact on readers and create a serious sense of debate about human existence and the acceptance of social rules. The Outsider is a well juxtaposed prose of absurdism and existentialism. Mersault is a social outcast and his hike up actions only make him an object of ridicule in his own society. One cannot see any kind of redemption for Mersault in his predicament he is doomed and destined for a fatal end. The parts of the story where Mersault is wallowing in self doubt are existentialist in theme and the parts where he is unsuccessfully trying to find out the answers that can legitimize his actions are absurdist. Kafkas Metamorphoses sees Gregor going through an amalgamation of emotional, sensual and mental dilemmas. H is physical transformation into a vermin is the main culprit. This transformation creates an emotional and mental havoc in him. It can be said about Gregor that he has the answers but is in search of the questions. So, the Metamorphoses begins in an existentialist way but ends with an absurdist plot.