Comparing Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” to Camus’ “The Outsider”.
Camus’ “The Outsider” and Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” have been compared extensively. These comparisons have been made mostly on the basis of the philosophies presented in the book. They are both so-called ‘confessional’ novels, in which the central character goes through a change, which brings self-awareness or enlightenment.
The existing comparisons have been focused on comparing philosophies, analysing the differences in them and the characters. It is thus logical to compare the book’s introduction to determine how well they present the book, what type of style is used and why, what foreshadowing is present.
The beginning of “The Outsider” thrusts us directly into the plot, without any explanation, any description of any kind of surrounding. We are presented with facts: “Mother died today.” which are followed by the character’s train of thought, which proceeds to take us through his discussion about the problems of loosing his mother, namely “travelling fifty miles to Marengo, where the old-folk’s home” is and “having to take two days off work”. The character whose thoughts we are presented with seems very detached from the emotional side of life. This can be reinforced with the representation of how he accepts his mother’s death, in other words, he does not care very much, and he does not feel. His only concern is his personal comfort, such as the length of travel to Marengo, when Mersault is meant to be grieving his mother, he thinks that the old people “sitting in silence were getting on [his] nerves.
