Victims of Society in The Outsider and Antigone Essay -- Meursault Ant

Victims of Society in The Outsider and Antigone two Meursault and Antigone are the protagonists in their stories.They have a great deal in common, such as the fact that they explain theirimpending deaths as decided by fate, even though each seems to have aneasy way of surviving. Both are allow foring to die for what they conceiveis right. The concept of fate is quite different between the texts. InAntigone, a Chorus tells you at the beginning of the track down thatAntigone will die. Antigone uses the excuse of fate to explain her owndeath to Creon, where as in The Outsider fate is much more subtle.First I will look at The Outsider and Meursault. Albert Camus wrotethis novel as a challenge against the death penalty and the societythat imposes it. It reflects his existential philosophy including howwe do non swan people that are different, that society would ratherhear lies then the truth if the truth makes them uncomfortable, andthat people with different views to the majority a re persecuted.Camus choice of Meursault, an unusual person, who does not play thegame, enables him to demonstrate this argument.Meursaults first words are Mother died today. He is very quiet anddetached and likes to observe events around him like a spectator,regardless of their importance to him. At his mothers funeral, hedoes not cry, he smokes and drinks coffee, and this turns out to bethe reason for his execution. It may appear that the fact thatMeursault is killed because of the way he acts at his mothers funeralis a sign of hubris, much like Creons in Antigone, who does notrespect Polynices death properly.Camus shows us Meursaults philosophy is a hedonistic one he actslike each day is his last. His bo... ...nes share is argued by all the individual characters, eacharguing only for the side that benefits themselves. The Chorus arguesfor fate to justify its existence, Creon argues for it to justify hisdecision to have Antigone executed, Heamon argues against it becausehe wants Antigone to break down on.These two stories rely on inevitability to draw attention away fromthe storyline, and bring the focus onto the issues they raise. Camuswished to persuade people that the death penalty was unjust and wrong, charm Anouilh wanted to encourage a sense of rebellion among thepeople of occupied France during World War 2. In The Outsider and inAntigone both of the main characters believe that they are destined todie, becoming martyrs for their authors causes.Bibliography============Anouilh, Jean - Antigone, 1944Camus, Albert - The Outsider, 1942