Comparison Between Anna Kareni Essay, Research Paper

Uttering the term human existence generates a broad yet vague topic in the mind. The term requires the answers to many questions about God and religion, about life and its purpose and even about love and its value. Yet no objective answers can be provided. These answers are absolutely open to personal belief and interpretation. Some of these beliefs may seem very accessible to others, while some of them are inscrutable to everyone accept their creators. Consequently, two writers, Naguib Mahfouz and Albert Camus each present views on religion, life and love through the characterization of protagonists in their novels The Thief and the Dogs and The Outsider respectively. Mahfouz shows through his protagonist, Said Mehran that religion is important, that life must have a meaning and that love is important and valuable. Conversely Camus presents through Meursault the protagonist that religion is important, that life is indifferent and without purpose and that love is meaningless. Thus a comparison of the novels shows that Said s views are more accessible to others than the views presented by Meursault.

In relation to religion, Said respects his religion and appreciates God even though he in unable to follow it himself, but Meursault rejects God completely and does not even acknowledge his existence. In the story Said recalls that as a kid the joy of Paradise aroused in him [through his] faith (Mahfouz 43). Now he is unable to adore such joy as his life is in misery and he is wanted for murder. Yet he still respects religion but only circumstances disallow him from adhering to it. Meursault however has no interest in God and considers Him a waste of time. He says he doesn t have much time left so he does not want to waste it on God (Camus 114). To him religion is a waste of time, as he finds no need to worship his creator. He has no fear of God at all, no doubt that He might actually exists, so he considers God is unimportant. In perspective, Meursault view on God is much less accessible as he considers God a waste of time, but Said just can t find the time for God, which is a more understandable situation.

Similarly, Said s view on life is more accessible as he feels it has some meaning to it, yet Meursault finds no hope or joy in life itself. Said assigns a purpose to his life even when he is almost a dead man wanted by police. He thinks to himself, Does your ruined life have any meaning unless it is kill your enemies (Mahfouz 77). This shows that he is still trying to place a meaning for life so that he may continue with a purpose. However, Meursault finds no meaning in life as he says, laid myself open to the benign indifference of the world finding it so much like myself [that] I realized I was happy (Camus 117). To him life does not need to change or move to achieve a goal, because he feels happy to live because he is indifferent just like the world. He is happy the way he is and would be just as happy if he were in any other way because life has no purpose to him. As can be seen, Said once again portrays a more logical link for living as he gives it purpose while Meursault once again shows an inscrutable, logic-lacking point of view.

Finally Said portrays the value of love through more accessible thought. To him, love is very important and he is in a need for it. That is hwy when he recalls love for his daughter Sana, the heat and the dust, the hatred and the pain all disappear leaving only love to glow (Mahfouz 9). This shows just how much love he has for his daughter thus showing that he is indeed a true father who earnestly cares for his daughter. Meursault on the other hand finds no care in his love and does not value it. He feels that he probably loved [his] mother quite a lot, but that didn t mean anything (Camus 65). He feels that sometimes people want their loved ones dead. From a behavioral point of view this is not understandable, as most sons love their moms and would never want them dead. Once again it proves that Said has a more accessible concept of love and its value.

As seen, the two novels show different views on religion, life and love, but definitely the more accessible ideas come from Said. He expresses that religion is important, life needs a meaning to define its existence and love is valuable. There views many agree to in one way or another, so it is easier to understand them. Meursault beliefs are more inexplicable as he denies God, a purpose in life and the value of love and yet manages to be happy. Hence his views are correct in his own logic and he defines his existence although not many can understand his reasoning. This is the reason human existence is so vague and broad as every definition can be right yet seem wrong.

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