The Meaning of Human Existence

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 World Literature 1 - The Meaning of Human Existence

 In both the Metamorphosis and The Stranger the authors focus on the irrationality of the universe and explore the insignificance of human life. Both of the novels' main characters, Gregor (from the Metamorphosis) and Meursault (from The Stranger) live lives of silent desperation. In the Metamorphosis Franz Kafka introduces us to Gregor, an ordinary young business man supporting his unappreciative family. The startling element to this novel is that Gregor has just turned into a beetle. The Stranger by Albert Camus' tells a story of a very physically different character, named Meursault, yet both books convey similar messages. Gregor and Meursault start out unaware of their circumstances however throughout each of the novels they become more aware and learn to accept their fate.

 The Metamorphosis begins where your typical story is at its climax; we have no idea how or why Gregor has made this physical transformation to a beetle. This is the principal expression of the irrationality that exists in the novel. Gregor resists this situation for which he has had no control over nor can he change. It is an unfortunate irony that Gregor cannot accept the fact that he is no longer a human, this is seen on page five when he says, "In fact, Gregor felt fine, with the exception of his drowsiness, which was really unnecessary after sleeping so late..." How can this man wake up one morning, look into the mirror and see a giant bug staring back at him, and then carry on with his day as usual? This brings up a serious issue; Gregor wakes up and his only thought is of getting to work, there is nothing that is going to stop him from getting there, even waking up as a giant vermin. Throughout the novel Kafka presents us with a man obsessed with his profession, in search of his parents' approval, jus

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t as many of us live day in and day out.

 Meursault does not face the same physical obstacles as Gregor but is similar in that he possesses neither rational thought nor lives in a rational world. He exists solely as a physical being, there is no thought or emotions put into his choices. When Meursault is hungry he eats, when he is tired he sleeps, when he "needs" a woman he goes to his girlfriend. This desire for physical relief is presented multiple times throughout the novel: "I ate almost everything. She left at one o'clock and I slept ...

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