In The Stranger by Albert Camus, is it possible that the nonchalant, uncaring nature of Mersault makes him an existentialist? If this is so, is Gregor Samsa, of Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, an existentialist as well? Samsa and Mersault both exhibit characteristics that imply that they do not feel that there is a purpose in the world that they live in, but do they actually feel this way? Are Samsa and Camus really the existentialists that Kafka and Camus present them as? If they are, what has caused them to develop this view of life and the world in which they live?
Is Mersault’s distant relationship to his mother the reason for his existentialist thoughts and views? If this is the case, then is it possible that Samsa develops his personal views because of his detachment from his immediate family? The reader sees that Samsa does not interact much with his family, but could this really drive him to feel so strongly about the pointlessness of life? Mersault only seems to have a slightly close relationship with Marie, just as Samson confides in his sister, but why is it that neither of these men can find their true meaning through the significant women in their lives? It does not seem so at first, but is it possible that these women share a similar view of the world? Is that why they do not try to convince their men that there is meaning in the world?
Is there truly any explanation as to why these men think as they do? Though it does not seem likely, is it possible they have simply always had this view of society and the world in which they live? Does a person, group of people, or event have a greater impact on an individual’s personality? What is it that molds the views and characteristics of a person in themselves?
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