Moral Ambiguity in The Stranger Essay - 727 Words

Has there ever existed a person that has not judged someone else over their lifetime? Judging by reality as well as literature it seems that no person like that has ever existed. It appears that it is human nature to want to pronounce others as either purely good or evil. But does everyone fit into the mold of good or evil? In Albert Camuss The Stranger, Meursault is a morally ambiguous character, and this ethical indistinctness plays a major part in the novel as a whole and the theme that Camus is trying to portray. Meursault resists being typecast into an archetypal moral category in many of his deeds and actions. Many of his actions in Part One of the novel help contribute to the fuzzy picture of the character. For example,†¦show more content†¦Abstractly, it almost seems as though the other characters in the book look down on his for this not because he is not mourning, but rather because he is not mourning in the way they are. This sheds light on the overall theme of the novel, that of people being cast out of society because their views and methods do not line up with the accepted ways of society. The same moral ambiguity is also present in Meursaults murder of the Arab and the ensuing trial. As far as absolute morality goes, the murder is without question an act that falls on the evil side of ethics. That point is not a topic for debate, but in the reasons behind it the reader can find even more of Meursaults moral ambiguity. At the time, he does not seem to know why he is doing what he is doing, but it is certainly not out of spite or malice, nor out of any specific hatred of the Arab himself. He could be harboring a grudge on behalf of his friend, which would be understandable, since Raymond is one of the only people we see Meursault truly connect with in the novel, if it can even be called that. He could be taking preemptive action in self-defense, especially after he sees the knife glinting in the Arabs hand. In truth, it is never truly revealed what his motive for his rash action was, making it hard again toShow MoreRelatedNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1 602 Words   |  7 Pagesbegins with a stranger sharing a peaceful evening with a family near a fireplace. Hawthorne emphasizes the sense of warmth and unity between the intimate group. Although the stranger had just met the tight-knit family, he quickly finds â€Å"warmth and simplicity of feeling† in his surroundings. Hawthorne then shifts the warm tone to serious and thought-provoking, when he introduces death and the legacy one leaves behind, into the conversion. The group shares their future wishes: the stranger yearned toRead MoreAnalysis Of Hofstede s Dimension Of Culture1420 Words   |  6 Pageswithin a culture are made nervous by situations which they perceive as unstructured, unclear, or unpredictable. Japan is extremely high and the United States is low. High uncertainty-avoidance cultures seek to avoid ambiguity. Cultures low in uncertainty avoidance tend to accept ambiguity and lack of structure more easily. Mark avoided the problem for years. His avoidance of the problem is an example of individuals from low-uncertainty-avoidance cultures inclining only to work hard when needed. MarkRead MoreSocial Stereotypes And Cultural Stereotypes1282 Words   |  6 PagesCultural Barriers’ 1991), Dongyuan Deng and Shuli Zhang (‘Stereotypes Communication’ 2009) and Juliane House (Communicative Styles In English and German) to determine just how important it is for the foreigner to understand the cultural values, norms and moral attitudes of a different society, as to reduce the instance of miscommunication and offending of others within a particular group. Geographically, Germany locates itself in the centre of Europe, inhabited by over 81 million people approximately,Read MoreThe Argument Of Abortion On Abortion1692 Words   |  7 Pagesis granted, it still does not follow that abortion can be recognized as the wrongful killing of a human being. Thomson bases this claim on answering the question of whether or not a pregnant woman is under the moral obligation to sustain a fetus for nine months. To Thomson, there is no moral obligation, an argument provisioned by the analogical case of the unconscious violinist. In this case, she places the reader in an involuntary situation where they are hooked up to a dying violinist who is dependentRead MoreEuthanasia Essay993 Words   |  4 Pages249(part ii) Part (i) Word Reflection What do you believe?/ What is your opinion? Euthanasia is not wrong. Euthanasia can be a morally correct under appropriate supervision. What about the terms/definitions? Are they clear? What kind of problems or ambiguities arise here? The term Euthanasia is known by most ordinary people as it is a famous issue that still remain debatable. There should not be any problem understanding the argument of euthanasia is not wrong. Except the level of acceptance of EuthanasiaRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate1332 Words   |  6 Pagesare some proved of behavioural genes at many twins study. When identical twins are reared apart, they still show same similarities in behaviour and response as they have been raise together. Take a look Take example of the case study of identical strangers twins (Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein) explore Nature vs Nurture. One of the weakness issues against Biological Perspective is gay gene may exist that is mean they are actually born gays. Another issue is tendency to divorce, aggressive behaviourRead MoreThe practice of using ritual powers, magic and the invocation of spirits-broadly termed as1200 Words   |  5 Pagesbut also dictates a way in which they are expected to react to such unfortunate events. Witchcraft is found in every corner of their culture and influences the way they perceive things and the way their tribe functions according to specific laws, morals, etiquette and religion. The Zande come into daily contact with witchcraft. They respond to it with aggression and annoyance, instead of awe or fear, because it is so much a part if their ordinary world. They do not hold witchcraft responsible forRead MoreAnalysis Of The Tell Tale Heart 1110 Words   |  5 PagesOftentimes, the most truly despicable villains are marked with indifference towards their moral reprehensibility. â€Å"In the Penal Colony† and â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† both elucidate the idea that corruption, darkness, and imm orality alike are unperceivable to the one afflicted. However, while â€Å"In the Penal Colony† suggests that this blind nature is a result of dutiful honor, responsibility, and hope, â€Å"The Tell Tale Heart† alternatively submits that it is a result of the possibility of fulfillment. Read MoreDoes Fiction Build the Morality of Individuals and Societies, or Does It Break It Down?947 Words   |  4 Pagescultivate our mental and moral development. Others however have argued that fiction is mentally and ethically obstructive. Posing the age old question: Does fiction build the morality of individuals and societies, or does it break it down? â€Å"The goal, I suppose, any fiction writer has, no matter what your subject, is to hit the human heart and the tear ducts and the nape of the neck and to make a person feel something about the characters are going through and to experience the moral paradoxes and strugglesRead MoreEssay on Alan Moores The Watchmen1610 Words   |  7 Pagestraditionally popularized portrayal of superheroes, whose unquestionably altruistic motives ultimately produce unrealistically idealized results; the realistically flawed characters of Watchmen exist in a multi faceted world characterized by moral ambiguity. America’s imperialistic ambitions have long been justified as an expression of American idealism. Much like the portrayal of superheroes in popular culture, America’s intervention in foreign affairs was portrayed as the result of a clearly defined