Thursday, September 12, 2019

Discuss the style of the novella The Stranger, by Camus Research Paper

Discuss the style of the novella The Stranger, by Camus - Research Paper Example The reader is presented with a murderer protagonist who is devoid of motive, reason or logic for the crime he has committed. Camus uses the language of the narrator as a device through which the reader may understand the perspective of Meursault, and as a way to reflect aspects in the development of the story. Meursault as a character is utterly remarkable, in that he is quite unremarkable in every possible way (Day 84). He appears to have no unusual or outrageous attributes, opinions, qualities or flaws when the reader is initially introduced to him. He does nothing special, holds no special job, is not living under any unusual circumstances, does not discuss any extreme or judgemental personal opinions and is far from being emotionally distinctive. Meursault leads an existence in which â€Å"days are added to days without rhyme or reason †¦ [and his life] is an interminable and monotonous addition† (Camus 16). However, it is this lack of special traits and engaged interaction in society and life that makes the character, paradoxically, very remarkable and unusual. As the reader unveils the protagonists’ inner thoughts and plot development of the story, it becomes clear that this character is remarkably detached from society in every way. Furthermore, not only is he de tached from society, he is detached from life itself including family and relationships. He displays an unsettling degree of amorality and total lack of judgement of other people’s actions, thoughts and behaviours. Indeed, his detachment goes even further as we realise that he is also detached from his own emotions and self-identity to the extent that he appears to be lacking in both. From the very beginning of the story, Meursaults language very effectively allows the reader insight into his way of thinking. His sentences are consistently brief and concise right from the start, â€Å"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I can’t be sure† (Camus 1). His lack of elaboration or

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