Existentialism in Camus The Stranger Essay Example for Free

Existentialism in Camus The Stranger Essay Existentialism is often defined as a philosophical movement or tendency, emphasizing individual existence, freedom and choice. As a result of the diversity of positions associated with this term it is impossible to define precisely. There are, however, basic themes common in existentialist beliefs. As is evident through the root of the word, exist, there is a stress on definite individual existence and freedom of choice. Developed between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this ideology influenced literature greatly. A prime example of the incorporation of certain aspects of existentialism is witnessed in Albert Camuss The Stranger. The use of existentialism within his work assists in the development of his characters; it determines how they will act and respond to their surroundings. The aforementioned actions are often unique due to the influence of existentialism. Meursault is the major character in The Stranger. He is considered the personification of existentialism, the existential hero if you will. He is emotionally indifferent to others and, as the prosecutor of his case words it, a coolly calculating monster. Meursault is alienated from society throughout the tale as he accepts individual responsibility for his unique progression. Throughout Camuss The Stranger there are references to an event that occurs at the outset of the novel and exhibits ideals inherent to existentialism: the death of Meursaults mother. His insensitivity is introduced through the emotions, or lack thereof, that he displays upon news of the death of Maman. He seemingly cares not for his own mother as is shown in his opening statements: Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I dont know. I got a telegram from the home: Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours. That doesnt mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday. He is more concerned with the time of the death rather than the fact that he has just lost a loved one. In addition, Meursault is more concerned about his surroundings at the home and in the mortuary, rather than the fact that his mother lies dead in a casket, several feet from him. As the caretaker proceeds to approach the casket so as to give Meursault a last look at his mother, Meursault himself stops him. As the caretaker asks just why he requests the casket left closed the only reason Meursault can give is, I dont know. During the funeral procession he seems much more alert to the suns rays beating down on him, choosing to forget where he is and the task at hand. The lack of compassion and refusal to behave the way society expects him to act are what essentially make him an existentialist. Several mundane yet life altering events are also taken into account by Meursault in an existential attitude. He meets a woman named Marie while swimming the day following Mamans funeral. Despite the death that had just occurred, he finds joy in her company and does not let his loss bother him. Later on, Marie inquires as to whether Meursault would be interested in marrying her. In response he states, I said it didnt make any difference to me and that we could if she wanted to. Such an insensitive response is intrinsic to the beliefs of an existential. This is only exemplified as he answers the same way when she queries him on his love for her. Marriage is considered by society to be an important event in life yet Meursault wanders from the beaten path, in an example of the theory of existence preceding essence or that one is in control of their own destiny. He demonstrates this belief once again as his boss offers him a chance to move to Paris where he would attain a change in life. Meursault is indifferent on the subject as he does not desire more and was not dissatisfied by what he had now. The boss was upset at this turn of events and Meursault simply returned to work stating, I would rather not have upset him, but I couldnt see any reason to change my life. He gives no rational explanation as to why he would want to change his life or not, only that it was not important and one life was just the same as another, showcasing another basic standard of existential belief. The climax of the book comes during Meursaults trial for the murder of the Arab and yet another rendition of existentialism is divulged. Camus begins to ridicule the legal system as his characters trial continues, making apparent the fact that Meursault is truly an outsider. Camus conveys this by making Meursault feel out of place at his own trail and rushing it along as if it is a minor insignificance. The prosecutors main base of offense is that Meursault did not exert emotions during his mothers funeral, for he was guilty. The prosecutor alienates him because he had not followed societys current misconceptions when confronted with a situation that one was supposed to grieve during. In his closing arguments, the prosecutor says, But here in the wholly negative virtue of tolerance must give way to the sterner but loftier virtue of justice. Especially when emptiness of a mans heart becomes, as we find it has in this man, an abyss threatening to swallow up society; as if to say that the murder of the Arab was a direct result of the stoic mindset Meursault held at Mamans funeral. Once again society has rejected him by distorting the truths of the case and trying him for that single event rather than that which he was convicted for. In making Meursault a stranger from society and the legal system, Camus reveals his philosophy of existentialism. The highly influential effect of the existentialist beliefs on the literature of the twentieth century is clearly revealed in the overall content and mood within Camuss The Stranger. The character of Meursault exhibits a bold existentialist attitude throughout the story that, on several occasions, explodes forth in a sharp contrast to his normal submissive personality; a most noticeable occasion being his outburst during his episode with the chaplain when he snapped after having an epiphany. It did not matter that he was being killed and the chaplain living another day, for he had lived his life and taken hold of his fate; therefore was certain as to what would come. The chaplain had his empty prayers but Meursault was sure of himself; his life and his death. Another notable occasion in which he offers an outlook on existentialism is during his stay in prison. He no longer had anyone or thing to worry about but himself. He is able to dissect himself and examine what his future will bring, and experiences several emotions often grouped with existentialism; the most outstanding being fear and anxiety. Society had declared Meursault absurd because of his unrelenting uniqueness and through this, the title of the book may be derived. Meursault has become a stranger in his own world, a social outcast punished for crimes which are both ridiculous and yet the norm. Camus, through his utilization of Meursault, has thoroughly explained the absurdities of life and how they, along with the actions of Meursault, thoroughly portray his existentialist beliefs as they were meant to be. By supplying Meursault with the nature to rebel against preconceived misconceptions, Camus has managed to provide the reader with the ability to easily decipher and gain insight to the ideals of an existentialist.

Free Essays - Essay on Medea and Antigone :: comparison compare contrast essays

Medea and Antigone are two stories of women fighting back for what they want, or what they feel is right. These stories take place in ancient Greece, around the time of its rise to power. Medea and Antigone are both strong, sometimes-manipulative characters but have different moral settings that control what they do. Medea is often very demanding in getting what it is that she wants; Antigone, will do what she need to do in order to get what she wants. With Antigone she is defies the law of a king to uphold the law of her spiritual belief. In the middle of the night she lives the house and sneaks into a field to bury her dead brother. Medea killed many people, including her own sons and a princess, in order to only spite her unlawful and cheating husband. The two women are like alligators, waiting motionless for the right time to strike. In the case of Medea, swift, violent strikes. And with Antigone, a cool collected precise one. These women are always determined to get what they want.   In classic works being a strong woman seems to run hand in hand with being manipulative. Medea lied and cheated friends to try to acquire time in order to get what she wants. In this case what she wants is revenge agents her ex-husband. She tricks a friend to give her asylum in Athens after she has committed her insane task. Medea even goes so far as to be able to con Kreon, the king himself into giving her an extra day. This unwittingly gives her exactly what she needs. Antigone tries her hand at manipulation but is not as successful as Medea. Antigone tries, with no avail, to persuade her sister, Ismene, to help her give their brother Polyneices a proper burial. In this way they are more like foxes, cunning but not always getting it right. Their deceitful nature is their strength.   While both women do wrong by the law of man, and Medea against the law of the gods, they do it for different reasons.   In the beginning Medea kills many people and monsters with little or no concern of the consequence. When the story deals with modern times Medea kills out of pure revenge and spite for Jason.   She plots for weeks to kill Jason’s new bride and poisons her, and then before she leaves the country she murders her two sons, she had with Jason, before she rides off in her bright white chariot.

Importance Of Oil And How It Has Changed World Politics Essay

In the modern civilization, oil has great significance.   However, many people do not consider oil to be of great significance because they only associate it with the diesel or the petrol that they use for transport purposes. According to Yergin (Yergin, p 17), the world is addicted to oil. Due to the oil’s important role in all countries all over the world especially in the industrialized nations, there is need for countries to give attention to the international oil industry. The Middle East plays a major role in world politics in relation to oil. Majority of the world oil reserves are found in the Middle East and according to the British Petroleum company data, the Gulf oil reserves in 2005 accounted for 62 per cent .Of the world total oil reserves of 1,200bn barrels, Gulf reserves accounted for 743bn barrels. In this paper, the importance of oil will be discussed and an evaluation on how oil has changed the world politics will be given. Discussion Importance of oil One of the most important roles of oil is its contribution to the global economic development.   One of the ways through which oil leads to economic development is its use in providing energy for various forms of transport such as planes, vehicles and trains. The modern civilization is built on oil.   In almost all countries all over the world, the transport system accounts for more than 50 per cent of oil consumption. The transport sector due to its high dependence on oil is estimated to contribute to the world’s 90 per cent increase in carbon emissions in EU by 2010. Development and technological advancement increases the demand for oil in the transport sector.   According to Chomat (Chomat, p 10) depends heavily in oil. Engdahl (Engdahl, p 23) asserts that in Europe and the United States, oil and oil-derived products in the transport industry account for about one third of the total amount of energy consumed in the world.   In India, China, and other developing nations in Asia, the economic prosperity and technological advancement has led to an increase in demand for oil in the transport sector as more trains, vehicles, and planes are being produced.   In America, the enormous fleet of vehicles, trains, and planes depend on oil for 97 per cent for fuel.   For countries that have oil reserves, oil that is used in the transport industry is much cheaper. Research conducted on the members of the organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) indicated that the transport sector accounts for an increase in demand for oil.  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the high demand for oil, world oil prices keep on increasing, making bio-fuel, solar energy and nuclear energy to become   alternative sources of energy. Apart from being used as fuel in the transport sector, oil provides energy in the operation of machines in the industries, factories, and production plants. Kenneth (Kenneth, p 36) asserts that in the industrial and domestic buildings, oil is used for heating hence making oil one of the most commonly used products at home and in industries. In the industrial sector, natural gas produced from oil has become a primary energy source.   This sector has maintained the lead in the consumption of natural gas and it is estimated that by 2030, the industrial sector will account for 43 per cent of the projected use of natural gas. The gas has become an attractive choice for the power generating plants due to its low carbon dioxide intensity as well as its relative fuel efficiency.   It is projected that by 2030, 35 per cent of world’s consumption of natural gas will be accounted for by the electricity generation plants. The developing countries consume half of the world’s production of kerosene which is used for lighting and for cooking. In the developed nations such as the United States and the European nations, kerosene is used as jet fuel. Industries and factories that produce plastics and paints use oil as a raw material.   Industries in the modern economies rely heavily on oil to produce commodities and natural gas which is produced from oil fields is a major raw material in fertilizer production.   Examples of nations that produce fertilizers from natural gas are Saudi Arabia which is currently one of the world’s largest oil producers. Yergin (Yergin, p 12) asserts that oil is very important in the production of food all over the world because it supports agricultural production activities. Oil that is derived from petroleum is used for heating, powering the combustion engines, and lighting.   When it comes to heating purposes, the high boiling point of the oil is good for cooling systems and the non-polarity quality of oil makes it very significant for lubrication for various engineering purposes. This is one reason why oil is very important in industries where machines are used for production.   The high demand for paints has been increasing over the years as modernization result to construction of buildings in urban and rural areas.   Since the 15th century, oil has been used in paint production because color pigments in paints can be suspended in oil.     Ã‚  As industries grow while others are newly established, demand for oil will continue to increase. How oil has changed world politics The use of oil in all aspects of life in the modern civilization demands that countries have easy access to the resource.   In addition, accessing oil at a cheaper price has become a critical factor for countries.   The desire by nations to attain economic prosperity and financial independence influences the diplomatic and economic relations between nations. A good example of how oil has shaped the world politics is the relationship between the West and Middle East.   Currently, Middle East region accounts for the largest world oil production. Saudi Arabia which exports oil has established diplomatic ties with the US and European nations. This influences the political relations between the nations.   Before oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia, Britain had political influence in the region.   When the kingdom of Saudi Arabia was established, King Abdul Aziz efforts to give concession to either a Britain or American companies to drill oil has changed the political relations between the West and Middle East. The American Standard Oil of California which won the concession made America have control over rich oil fields in the Kingdom at the disadvantage of the British who were competing with America for concession. Aaron (Aaron, p 21) states that since then, the political relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia have been good. The great economic benefits that oil brought to Saudi Arabia led to good diplomatic relations between the kingdom and the United States.   Although the US had earlier shown little interest in Middle East political matters due to its isolationist policies, its relations with Saudi Arabia has made the US to be greatly involved in political matters in the region. Saudi Arabia has become an ally of the United States as it pursues its political interest in Middle East. For example, due to the diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States since the 1930s, Saudi Arabia supported the Allies during the World War I.   King Abdulaziz who is the founder of the Kingdom during the war allowed the United States aircraft to fly over the Kingdom’s territory.  Ã‚  Ã‚   This was vital for the US and allied nations. In addition, the good relations between America and Saudi Arabia assisted the US to deploy its troops during the cold war.   The US through its troops in Saudi Arabia helped it to contain the Soviet Union and eventually, the United States managed to gain political influence in the Gulf region at the expense of Britain.   The Saudi oil reserves have for a long time given America security in relation to oil. This has enabled the US maintain its political influence as a superpower. Through the diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and the United States, America has managed to influence the political agenda of nations such as Russia.   Just like the United States, Saudi Arabia does not support communism that is promoted by the Soviet Union. For nations to achieve economic prosperity, oil is a very critical commodity. Matthew (Matthew, p 52) states that competition for economic and political power between nations has resulted to competition for oil.   For the nations, the security of oil supplies has become an issue of concern which has in turn made the major oil producing countries which are members to the OPEC play a critical role in the security of oil supplies. It is estimated that 40 percent of oil demand in the world is met by oil supplies from OPEC countries because the countries account for 75 percent of world oil reserves.   This has compelled oil exporting nations to develop good relations with the oil producing countries.   The need to ensure that in future a country will have security of oil supplies has made countries to compete for the available oil resources. This has led to political conflicts as nations compete for the oil reserves. Furthermore, the oil trade has become an important issue in world politics.   The efforts to take control of the oil trade have influenced the development of policies which have had influence on the political issues. As nations quest for oil, the political interests of the countries which export oil aim at obtaining adequate and cheap oil. The World War II had a great impact on political relations between nations that belonged to the Allies and the Axis alliances. The war encouraged diplomatic relations between nations while it increased hostility between others. According to Miller (Miller, p, 13), the Allied forces during the war recognized the importance of oil in the war hence it tried to drain the Axis oil reserves. The Oil Campaign of World War II had Allied forces bomb the oil facilities that supplied the Nazi Germany with oil. The Allies and the Axis got involved into a military conflict due to differences in political ideology and need to have power. One of the factors that currently guarantee a nation’s of its power over other nations is oil security. To maintain power and oil security, the Allied nations formed the United Nations which up to date allows the nations to promote the achievement of their political agenda. The relations between United States, Europe and Central Asian nations which have oil reserves have influenced politics in these nations. For instance, one of the Central Asian nations that have oil reserves that the US is interested is Kazakhastan.The oil politics in Central Asia (Oil Politics in Central Asia, 2009) indicate that for the US to access Kazakhstan’s oil through pipeline, the pipeline would need to go through Afghanistan. This is considered to be the reason why the US is determined to end the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The US â€Å"War on Terror† promotes the US war in Afghanistan which has triggered political debates and shaped political relations all over world .Another issue that Wright (Wright, p 18) points out about the US political interest in Middle East is that the US invasion in Iraq was influenced by America’s quest for oil. Various national oil companies compete for the strategic oil resources.   For example, development in Asian nations such as Japan and China has made the competition for the oil between oil companies to be stiff. The companies have been experiencing increased competition for oil in Eurasia and Middle East .In the past, the Chinese Sinopec and ENPC, India’s IOC and Russia’s Lukiol have been competing for oil resources in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.   The oil deals made between the national oil companies and oil producing countries has encouraged good diplomatic relations between nations. Consequently, this makes the nations promote political agenda that does not affect the business deals. The need to benefit from the oil industry has encouraged trade alliances and agreements between nations.   By forming investment alliances, national oil companies from different nations can end political hostility between nations. On the other hand, political hostility between nations can result from the reluctance of nations to get engaged in oil trade deals.   For example, Russian oil companies in the past have been reluctant to establish alliances with Chinese and Western nations’ oil companies. This reluctance has continued play a role in the political relation between Russia and the nations it considers to be a threat.   Roger (Roger, p 52) confirms that when nations establish trade deals that aim at ensuring that a country has access to adequate oil, good relations makes the countries offer each other political support when the need to do so arises.   Due to the benefits the country derive from each other, the countries tend to support similar political interests.   For instance, a nation offers its political support to another country to guard itself from economic loss if the country it depends on for oil has its oil reserves affected. The Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) for example has its member countries protect each others’ political agenda as long as it is for the good interest of the organization.   The mission of this intergovernmental organization is to ensure stability of oil markets, unify the member countries petroleum policies and ensuring regular supply of petroleum in the market. In addition, the organization commitment to ensure that those who invest in the petroleum industry get   financial returns and that oil producers get a steady income has made it necessary for its members to support political agenda that benefits the member states.   The member states which include United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Nigeria and Iran through oil have managed influence global oil prices.   The internal politics of these nations affect the OPEC production quotas which in turn influence political interests of other nations which export oil.

How Far Do You Agree with the View That in the 1920’s the...

How far do you agree with the view that in the 1920’s the KKK possessed neither sizable support nor significant influence? The 1920’s marked a period of great racial tension throughout American Society, with the period often regarded as a melting pot due to such strains and tensions. The immigration of new, non-protestant immigrants such as Catholics and Jews since the turn of the century had brought about large scale unease due to the sheer number of immigrants. Combined with Mexicans, Orientals as well as a rapidly growing black population, these minority groups were to suffer at the hands of those concerned with the values of White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants, with these values playing a fundamental role in the American way of life.†¦show more content†¦Throughout the 1920†²s the Klan’s membership saw an increase, estimates at the time ranged from 3-5 million and profits rolled in from the sale these memberships, regalia, costumes and rituals. The Ku Klux Klan used intimidation, threats, beating and even murder in their quest for a â€Å"purified America†, thus appealin g to many Americans due to their proactive approach, which had not been mirrored by that of the republican government during the period. An example of such influence is the alleged election of governors in Maine, Colorado and Louisiana who had KKK support. Additionally, the Klan arguably aimed to defend the American way, reflecting fear amongst many Americans who feared the emergence of more radical, especially socialist ideas, which had spread from Eastern Europe due to the influx of immigrants during the early 20th Century. The Red Scare is a key proponent of this fear, thus providing the perfect breeding ground for bigotry. Many Americans had either witnessed, or heard of the Bolshevik Russia, which was ultimate seen as a threat to the capitalist society america has formed upon. In 1919 there were 3,600 strikes involving over 400,000 workers, possibly highlighting a feeling of tension and fear amongst a considerable proportion of the population. Ultimately, this scare has proved that the KKK was a defender of such ideology, considerably suggesting that