The Stranger: Working Paragraph

In Albert Camus' novel "The Stranger", the narrator Monsieur Meursault describes a complicated series of events in a simple, impartial manner, depicting himself as a seemingly absent-minded observer. In describing the sensitive topics in his life, from the death of his mother to the murder he commits, Meursault appears incapable to express his emotions, emphasizing that he focuses mainly on physical experiences. If observed through the perspective of French society, Meursault is an amoral monster unable to act in accordance to social conventions and poses a threat to others. Yet, the mechanics of his mind suggests that he is not as receptive to emotions are, but is still influenced by them. With quite a different framework of thoughts, Meursault lives barely susceptible to social ideals lest he would be ostracized. Where he lacks sensitivity to spirituality and emotions, he strengthens his attention towards physical experiences, often observing the world and events and smelling scents.

 Ideas to introduce: (Comparison to senior year and inevitable change of perspective after transition to college) (Shorten) (Thesis) (Include M's change of perspective?)

Camus' The Stranger: Essay Topic

When I began to read The Stranger, I not only found Meursault's personality and behavior difficult to decipher, but I also strangely felt familiar with the character's perspective of life. Similar to others, introspection for Meursault and I is very difficult to do, but what I believe what makes our perspectives similar is in how we seem to approach to self-analysis and views on emotions and other experiences with a sense of peaceful indifference. This indifference that we experience is not the same as obliviousness though; we do not lack awareness, but we do lack interest in matters. However, to a small degree, we do differ in our perspective of life. Though we both do not convey or relate our emotions in what would seem to be the normal manner, I acknowledge that I can do so, though with difficulty because I struggle to grasp them(I hope to clarify this point in my essay, so as to not dish out the full analysis); he, on the other hand, can acknowledge that he has great difficulty in doing so, but he influences the reader into believing that he may not have the ability to relate his emotions. Another point in which we differ is how social conventions influence us. Whether it involves introspection, behavior, manners, relations, I am very much influenced to act in accordance with social conventions; if not, then I wouldn't do so. Yet, Meursault is not tempted to conform. He offers his perspective on life in a very objective manner and one of the few indications of his opinion or emotions is his observation of nature. Perhaps, for the Camus essay, I will focus on the mechanics of Meursault's mind and how that relates very much to his observations of nature and the outside, human world, away from prison, focusing on the idea of "peaceful indifference". I would probably use my perspective on life, specifically on the last moments in high school have felt so important, and yet so uninteresting.

The Stranger: Passive, Indifferent?

In chapter 1 of Part Two of Camus' novel, Meursault continues to exhibit his indifference towards emotions and relationships. When asked on the matter of sensitive subjects, including his mother's funeral, Meursault does not reveal any emotions he held towards his mother's death, much to the dismay of his lawyer. Rather than discussing his emotions, he responds cordially and focuses more on his physical experiences, suggesting that he is most sensitive to physical senses and needs rather than emotions. Though Meursault often acts as if he does not understand social conventions and ethics, he sometimes refrains himself from portraying himself in that manner so as to not intimidate others of his apathy. His barely existent restrains suggest that he is not completely separate from society, so as not to become alienated; yet, his lack of qualities of what most would define as essential to humans would definitely convince others to ostracize him.

T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets

In T.S. Eliot's poem "Four Quartets", the narrator emphasizes the difficulty of employing words in his poems in order to communicate his emotions. In a world caught between the tragedies of two Great Wars, the poet struggles to organize the shambled emotions of his generation. Living with the ubiquitious acknowledgement of the wars, the poet even has words influenced by the chaos of war. In attempting to capture words, he portrays his disordered emotions as "undisciplined squads". Also, he describes his pursue as a constant battle to capture the necessary words to describe the tragedies of the generation. Yet, he mentions, much like the battles of the First Great War, there was neither gains nor losses. Every word he encounters cannot perfectly frame these disordered emotions.