A trend has prevailed throughout the novels I have explored in this project. Oedipus tried (but ultimately failed) to overcome the adversity he encountered after realizing the truth of his birth parents for his family and his country. Rodia prevailed over his internal struggle with inspiration from Dunya and direction from Sonia. Edgar aassists Gloucester in surviving the despair of his blindness and past mistakes. Cordelia attempts to heal the weakened Lear and help him overcome adversity by forgiving him. In every case, a loved one has been integral in a protagonist overcoming adversity, indicating perhaps that prevailing over adversity requires and outside source of motivation.
I think similar logic can be applied to Camus' The Stranger. Meursault does not overcome his adversity. The end of the novel finds him miserable and frustrated, with hope only that "cries of hatred" will greet him at his execution. One of Meursault's dominate traits is his indifference. He is emotionally detached from his surroundings, job, and most significantly, the people around him. Not even his mother's death, taking the life of another man, or separation from his love interest, Marie, induce any feeling. I believe it is Meursault's detachment and lack of relationships that cause him to fail in the face of adversity.
Odeipus, Crime and Punishment, and King Lear bear a commonality in the manner in which their protagonist attempt to overcome adversity. Contrarily, The Stranger is an example of a character lacking the tools imperative to defeating adversity.
Nice conclusion:
ReplyDeleteIn every case, a loved one has been integral in a protagonist overcoming adversity, indicating perhaps that prevailing over adversity requires and outside source of motivation.
I would beg to differ about M feeling "miserable" at the end of the novel. I think he is at peace with how he has lived and hopes that others may be awakened to the significance of life, even if it means shouting with hatred at one accused of murder.