Comparative Analysis of the Reflection of Albert Camus and Franz Kafka in their Works The Stanger
Authors of literature often use the characters, symbols, and even the settings of their works to present their own morals, lifestyles, and motives in life. Both pieces of literary works, The Metamorphosis, a novella by Franz Kafka and The Stranger, a novel by Albert Camus are a reflection of the author’s lives. With the use of tone, symbolism, and characterization, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka portray their own beliefs, lifestyles, and personalities in the characters of their works, The Stranger and The Metamorphosis which cause the reader to feel sorrow, remorse, empathy, and grief for the authors. ... The tone of negligence is presented in both works in various situations. An example of such a tone is used in a scene taken from Camus’ The Stranger, at which time a lawyer encounters the main character, Meursault. The tone of the scene is displayed through Meursault’s uncertainty about the love for his mother when he thinks, “I probably did love Maman, but that didn’t mean anything” (Camus 65). ... At the end of the meeting with the lawyer, Meursault meditates, “But really there was no point, and I gave up the idea out of laziness” (Camus 64). Here, Camus clearly shows himself, which is a person of Existential character, through the tone he used to portray the mood of carelessness and slothfulness. Albert Camus was a primary source for the start of Existentialism and one belief of the Existentialist theory is the carelessness, uncertainly, and meaninglessness of life.