Comparison between novels
Compare the self-imposed isolation of both Gregor and the protagonist of Hunger in the novels Metamorphosis and Hunger.
Look at the use of a few sub-characters that are used to highlight the protagonists in any two novels: The Stranger,Hunger, and/or Metamorphosis. (note: any specific type of characters?)
In Hunger and The Stranger, compare/contrast the use of absurdity among the protagonists and how they are judged for that.
Compare the family in Metamorphosis and those in Hunger.
Individual novel
Examine/analyze the use of light and dark in The Stranger.
In Metamorphosis, look at how Gregor fits in the idea of existentialism and how he goes through a "realization" . (note: broad start)
In any of the novels, Hunger, The Stranger, or Metamorphosis, look at the relationships within the novel and what the author could be trying to say: eg. No one has a "normal one" thus showing the absurdity/fake-ness of the world- or something like that.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Killing an Arab by the Cure
My dad showed me this song Killing an Arab by the Cure.
The writer had based it off of The Stranger, by Albert Camus. Here are the lyrics:
__________________________________________
Standing on the beach with a gun in my hand
Staring at the sea, staring at the sand
Staring down the barrel at the Arab on the ground
See his open mouth but I hear no sound
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing and Arab
I can turn and walk away or I can fire the gun
Staring at the sky, staring at the sun
Whichever I choose it amounts to the same
Absolutely nothing
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killin and Arab
I feel the silver jump smooth in my hand
Staring at the sea, staring at the sand
Staring at myself
Reflected in the eyes of the dead man on the beach
(The dead man on the beach)
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an Arab
________________________________________
It's always nice to hear that the novels and ideas we read about are actually in the world around us.
I found the lyrics quite interesting. Aside from the obvious display of motifs- the sand, the sea, the sky, the sun- the basic idea of The Stranger are represented in the song. "Whichever I choose it amounts to the same/ Absolutely nothing".
The chorus also contains some thought-provoking ideas: the "I'm alive/I'm dead" part. When Meursault kills the Arab, is he also killing himself at the same time? Physically, I suppose the answer could be yes- for he is condemning himself to be hung at the end. But what about spiritually?
What I found most intriguing was how he kept saying "staring at the sea, staring at the sand", etc., and then eventually said "staring at myself". We often notice how much his surroundings, especially the sun and the sky, influence Meursault. What we can add to this is why it changes him. What does Meursault really know about himself? At the end of his days in court, Meursault thinks to himself: "I had the odd impression of being watched by myself" (85). Does he recognize that he does have some emotion? Or is it that what the reader knows about the character is more than what the character knows about himself? We can analyze Meursault's character- an unemotional guy, blocking out any emotions whatsoever, disliking the sun and everything. But what does Meursault analyze? Although he provides reasons for his actions- eg. I slept because I drank too much wine- is that truly understanding himself, or has he just created some sort of bubble to protect himself?
I don't know if I'll listen to the song all that much, but it certainly has provided some thought.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Blog Portfolio March 4th 2011
Coverage:
Since the beginning of 2011, these are the blogs I have accumulated, dealing with the subject of existentialism. The majority of these blogs deal with three novels- Hunger (Hamsun), Metamorphosis (Kafka), and The Stranger (Camus). Other related articles are mentioned. Enjoy.
Light vs. Darkness
My Approach to Writing an Essay
Interpretation of Absurdity
Family Hierarchy
Gregor needs his family and his family needs him- or do they?
Hunger Mind Map
Hamsun and his characters are truly unknowable
Pastiche for Hunger
Hunger Artistry
Humans Need to Advance Themselves Too!
Making My Way Through Existentialism
Depth:
Gregor needs his family and his family needs him- or do they?
I felt that in this blog I came up with a different idea that contrasted with many other students. Also, I explored something that started with one sentence in my head that transformed into something much more complicated. What I liked about this blog was that the idea became a discussion not only on my blog but one that I could bring to others as well.
Interaction:
Making My Way Through Existentialism
While this wasn't a reply to someone else's blog, I wrote this after we discussed Sisyphus' story in class. A sort of continuation of that discussion/debate, I brought in the whole class' idea on the subject and agreed and questioned different parts. I've tried to give some of the individuals credit for their ideas, although I think the class as a whole developed the majority of the interpretations. This was more of a reply to the entire class- and Nina and Elizabeth were helpful enough to clear up some parts for me and further discuss ideas.
Discussion:
Interpretation of Absurdity
This blog sparked up an exploration of the Kafka movie and Metamorphosis between Elizabeth and me. I especially liked our conversation as we debated my ideas. What I first proposed was examined and questioned to result in a deeper understanding of the two "Kafkaesque" stories.
Xenoblogging:
Self-Respect
What I like about Julie's blog is that she almost always manages to connect it everyday life. This always keeps things real and meaningful, and so I was able to comment a lot on her blog. We started off having different viewpoints of Kafka's novel, and ended up really analyzing and contrasting the characters- especially Gregor and his father. Two quite different characters who have similar roles in the family. Anyways, I think we both understand the novel more now and even have a connection to our lives as well.
Wild Card:
Light vs. Darkness
This was an idea I had always been interested in after I read The Stranger. Since we hadn't blogged on it yet, I thought it was a good idea to set my thoughts straight about the novel itself. Also, I find the subject intriguing, and I may do my essay on this.
Since the beginning of 2011, these are the blogs I have accumulated, dealing with the subject of existentialism. The majority of these blogs deal with three novels- Hunger (Hamsun), Metamorphosis (Kafka), and The Stranger (Camus). Other related articles are mentioned. Enjoy.
Light vs. Darkness
My Approach to Writing an Essay
Interpretation of Absurdity
Family Hierarchy
Gregor needs his family and his family needs him- or do they?
Hunger Mind Map
Hamsun and his characters are truly unknowable
Pastiche for Hunger
Hunger Artistry
Humans Need to Advance Themselves Too!
Making My Way Through Existentialism
Depth:
Gregor needs his family and his family needs him- or do they?
I felt that in this blog I came up with a different idea that contrasted with many other students. Also, I explored something that started with one sentence in my head that transformed into something much more complicated. What I liked about this blog was that the idea became a discussion not only on my blog but one that I could bring to others as well.
Interaction:
Making My Way Through Existentialism
While this wasn't a reply to someone else's blog, I wrote this after we discussed Sisyphus' story in class. A sort of continuation of that discussion/debate, I brought in the whole class' idea on the subject and agreed and questioned different parts. I've tried to give some of the individuals credit for their ideas, although I think the class as a whole developed the majority of the interpretations. This was more of a reply to the entire class- and Nina and Elizabeth were helpful enough to clear up some parts for me and further discuss ideas.
Discussion:
Interpretation of Absurdity
This blog sparked up an exploration of the Kafka movie and Metamorphosis between Elizabeth and me. I especially liked our conversation as we debated my ideas. What I first proposed was examined and questioned to result in a deeper understanding of the two "Kafkaesque" stories.
Xenoblogging:
Self-Respect
What I like about Julie's blog is that she almost always manages to connect it everyday life. This always keeps things real and meaningful, and so I was able to comment a lot on her blog. We started off having different viewpoints of Kafka's novel, and ended up really analyzing and contrasting the characters- especially Gregor and his father. Two quite different characters who have similar roles in the family. Anyways, I think we both understand the novel more now and even have a connection to our lives as well.
Wild Card:
Light vs. Darkness
This was an idea I had always been interested in after I read The Stranger. Since we hadn't blogged on it yet, I thought it was a good idea to set my thoughts straight about the novel itself. Also, I find the subject intriguing, and I may do my essay on this.
Light vs. Darkness.
In Camus' The Stranger, I find the protagonist Meursault very interesting. At first I thought he was some unemotional, robotic guy: completely annoying and uncaring. As I read the second part, however, I started to notice that Meursault was not as unemotional as he appeared to be. There were times where I saw that he really just was a lonely guy.
So upon reading the novel a second time, I noticed more occurrences where he just wanted to be a part of society. The problem he has is this: he wants to be included, to have friends- but he doesn't understand society, and at times is uncomfortable in it. Take the chapter, for instance, where all he does, on a Sunday (which has its own connotations on by itself), is look out through a window at the world passing him by. His whole life, I thought, was sort of nicely summed up by what he says his mother says one time: that he is encased in a tree and all he can see is the sky above him, and he is used to this. So light and dark can represent the two sides: light, where the sky is, where society goes on without him, and darkness, inside the tree, inside his home, where he is comfortable yet unhappy.
There is a myriad of examples of light and dark interacting and contrasting each other- but what I want to focus on are his reactions to both:
It is obvious that Meursault often dislikes the sun and brightness. Every time he steps outside his comfort zone (outside the house, really), he is stunned by its brightness and its audacity. He is uncomfortable out in the openness, where the world exists. He doesn't understand the way people act and think- and so he is blinded by its brightness. At his times of confusion, it is because of the sun, the heat, and the brightness. Right before he kills the Arab, he can't stop looking at the way the light glints off the blade. So the light is society, where he wants to be. What is even more interesting is that one time Meursault is feeling gloomy at the brightness of the day when Marie comments on "what a beautiful day it was", and automatically he feels better: once he is a part of the society, of friendship, even family, he is not feeling so out of place in the light.
The darkness, on the other hand, is him- something that society does not understand or see. When he is in the comfort of his house, in the darkness, alone, he is in control of himself. Ironically, people are usually afraid of the dark, and Meursault in a way represents this- and is prosecuted for his strangeness- his dark, mysterious, abstruse character. The most interesting thing I find about the darkness is that when he is in the prison, he almost enjoys himself. There are no blinding lights here- there is his own cell, a prison yet comforting. Actually, that relates to the Hunger Artist and how he chose his own prison- perhaps Meursault sort of chose his own prison- except for the fact that he at times wishes to step into the light. The prison is a good example of the darkness and light. Although he is more comfortable in the dark, in the prison he still wishes and stares at the light outside in the outside world, the "normal" world. This forces him to realize that he was a bit happy out there. His own "metamorphosis", you might say.
Anyway, this relation between light and dark, Meursault and others, individual and society- it is discussed quite well in the novel, and I think there is a lot to say about it. Hopefully, I can keep an eye out for more of it, and maybe even do something on it. Oh, and I should add this to the class wiki.
So upon reading the novel a second time, I noticed more occurrences where he just wanted to be a part of society. The problem he has is this: he wants to be included, to have friends- but he doesn't understand society, and at times is uncomfortable in it. Take the chapter, for instance, where all he does, on a Sunday (which has its own connotations on by itself), is look out through a window at the world passing him by. His whole life, I thought, was sort of nicely summed up by what he says his mother says one time: that he is encased in a tree and all he can see is the sky above him, and he is used to this. So light and dark can represent the two sides: light, where the sky is, where society goes on without him, and darkness, inside the tree, inside his home, where he is comfortable yet unhappy.
There is a myriad of examples of light and dark interacting and contrasting each other- but what I want to focus on are his reactions to both:
It is obvious that Meursault often dislikes the sun and brightness. Every time he steps outside his comfort zone (outside the house, really), he is stunned by its brightness and its audacity. He is uncomfortable out in the openness, where the world exists. He doesn't understand the way people act and think- and so he is blinded by its brightness. At his times of confusion, it is because of the sun, the heat, and the brightness. Right before he kills the Arab, he can't stop looking at the way the light glints off the blade. So the light is society, where he wants to be. What is even more interesting is that one time Meursault is feeling gloomy at the brightness of the day when Marie comments on "what a beautiful day it was", and automatically he feels better: once he is a part of the society, of friendship, even family, he is not feeling so out of place in the light.
The darkness, on the other hand, is him- something that society does not understand or see. When he is in the comfort of his house, in the darkness, alone, he is in control of himself. Ironically, people are usually afraid of the dark, and Meursault in a way represents this- and is prosecuted for his strangeness- his dark, mysterious, abstruse character. The most interesting thing I find about the darkness is that when he is in the prison, he almost enjoys himself. There are no blinding lights here- there is his own cell, a prison yet comforting. Actually, that relates to the Hunger Artist and how he chose his own prison- perhaps Meursault sort of chose his own prison- except for the fact that he at times wishes to step into the light. The prison is a good example of the darkness and light. Although he is more comfortable in the dark, in the prison he still wishes and stares at the light outside in the outside world, the "normal" world. This forces him to realize that he was a bit happy out there. His own "metamorphosis", you might say.
Anyway, this relation between light and dark, Meursault and others, individual and society- it is discussed quite well in the novel, and I think there is a lot to say about it. Hopefully, I can keep an eye out for more of it, and maybe even do something on it. Oh, and I should add this to the class wiki.
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