Society Described as Prison.
The concept of prison and the deeper meaning of it is both manifested in the novels. The concept of prison in both books is illustrated in the society where the main protagonists belonged to. Prison is defined by the fact that the characters experience lack of freedom due to the moral standards given by the society to its members. Institutions specifically government and religion restrict them in their different forms of human tendencies. The world in both novels is indirectly defined as a prison. The rational structure created by a collective group of people restrict individuals to fully become human in terms of fully experiencing what the physical world can offer. Since humanity often attempts to find rational explanations to the rational events of the world, people are often restricted.
Unlike the society where he belongs to, Meursalt, the main character in the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, is passive and has a lack of moral feelings. He believes that life is meaningless and purely physical. He truly embraces the idea that human existence holds no greater significance. He is unperceptive but only exists via his sensory experience. In the first half of the novel, Meursault is unaware in the absurdity and irony of human existence and the only thing real to him is his physical experiences. Circumstances that would be very important for most individuals, such as his mothers death and marriage proposal, do not matter to him on an emotional or sentimental level. He is neither moral, immoral or amoral but he simply does not attempt to make a distinction between what is good and what is bad. He does not place any value judgment on his actions and decisions. As long as he has time and ability to do so, he will do an act. His killing to the Arab man as his response to the suns physical effects upon him is meaningless another event that happens. But his murder to the Arab however forces him to retrospect about life and its meaning. As Mersault contemplates his impending death by formal execution, he finally acknowledged his mortality and accountability for his own life. However he concludes at the end that human life has no grand meaning, greater purpose or importance, and that their actions, their goings and comings, have no consequence on the world. His realization about the meaninglessness of life is the culmination of all the events in the novel.
Due to Mersaults view towards the world or the universe and his passive or gentle indifference, society sees him as a threat or as an outsider. Mersualts view towards the world is like a prison that when its standards are not met, you are doomed to death. When you conform to the physical needs or to the philosophical notion that human life has no rational meaning or order, you are considered a prison or an outsider. The society nonetheless attempts to impose rational explanations or justifications for Meursaults irrational and sinful actions. The courtroom in the novel is used as a significant symbolism about how the author implicitly described the world as prison. The court can be compared to the society as a whole where minor characters reappear as witnesses in the courtroom in their attempt to justify that truly Mersaults actions are wrong and immoral. The law on the other hand functions as the will of the collective people where they present what a person as a member of the society should be and where the restrictions are put to. The crucifix in the novel also symbolizes rational belief structures. When Mersaults rejects Christianity, he automatically rejects all systems and orders that seek to define a rational order within human existence. Mersaults defiance and his passive approach towards the universe without thinking what makes an action good or bad can be branded a threat to the created social order.
The novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a story that describes a single day of an ordinary prisoner set in Soviet labor camp during 50s. Through the main protagonists thoughts, feelings and actions, the readers are able to perceive Russian camp life and its restricted activities. The authoritative oppression and cruelties given to the prisoners from prison officials illustrate how hard it is to be in that kind of situation. The prisoners actions are all managed and supervised by the camps commandment. The prisoners always have tasks to do, have limited rest and they never have free time to be with themselves and discuss important issues. Since survival is of the utmost importance to the prisoners, obedience is such an important virtue inside the camp. The setting and the human experiences literally conform to what a prison in reality is like. The physical and emotional condition of the camp is harsh, reflecting a world that has no tolerance and even small glimpse of independence. The prisoners almost rely totally on each others altruism even for the food their most basic human need. They are forced to overcome prejudices based on ethnic and cultural differences for the good of the group. However, the dehumanizing atmosphere forces the prisoners to discover ways to retain their identity and sense of individuality while conforming to the voiced or unvoiced rules of the camp.
In the novel, one can see the evil or the disadvantages the institutions created to the society that affect every aspect of the prisoners lives in the novel. The system uses the work squads to control and discipline the prisoners through punishment and peer pressure. However what moral compromises do prisoners have to make in order to survive Societies perceived prisoner labor as more than simple punishment or as a reformative experience by which they repay their debts to the society. Their reformative or training experience inside the prison will make them productive members of the society. However the harsh retribution for such small offenses is ironic and absurd. The long and hard prison sentences seems like nothing more than a cruel exercising of power by Soviet officials instead of disciplining. Those institutionalized conceptions made the prisoners lives like hell. Meanwhile the spoon that the main character hides on his boot after every meal represents his thirst for freedom and identity. Though the spoon is a useful tool, Shukhov perceives spoon as something that represents his uniqueness, because the spoon which he hides every time is something that the prisoners do not have. The camp continually tries to destroy the prisoners sense of uniqueness, and Shukhov must hide the spoon every after meal from camp officials in order to preserve the individuality and uniqueness he has carved out for himself in the camp.
Both novels says that the oppressive evil of this age is due to the institutionalized conceptions of what is right and wrong. The collective beliefs of people towards religion forces them to conform to the limitations or restrictions they imposed to the society. Both novels implicitly suggest that if the society is not institutionalized, men will be free to live life for what it is and to make the most of their remaining days. The entire rules and regulations is therefore an example of absurdity or the humanitys futile attempt to impose rationality on the irrational and unpredictable universe.
Unlike the society where he belongs to, Meursalt, the main character in the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, is passive and has a lack of moral feelings. He believes that life is meaningless and purely physical. He truly embraces the idea that human existence holds no greater significance. He is unperceptive but only exists via his sensory experience. In the first half of the novel, Meursault is unaware in the absurdity and irony of human existence and the only thing real to him is his physical experiences. Circumstances that would be very important for most individuals, such as his mothers death and marriage proposal, do not matter to him on an emotional or sentimental level. He is neither moral, immoral or amoral but he simply does not attempt to make a distinction between what is good and what is bad. He does not place any value judgment on his actions and decisions. As long as he has time and ability to do so, he will do an act. His killing to the Arab man as his response to the suns physical effects upon him is meaningless another event that happens. But his murder to the Arab however forces him to retrospect about life and its meaning. As Mersault contemplates his impending death by formal execution, he finally acknowledged his mortality and accountability for his own life. However he concludes at the end that human life has no grand meaning, greater purpose or importance, and that their actions, their goings and comings, have no consequence on the world. His realization about the meaninglessness of life is the culmination of all the events in the novel.
Due to Mersaults view towards the world or the universe and his passive or gentle indifference, society sees him as a threat or as an outsider. Mersualts view towards the world is like a prison that when its standards are not met, you are doomed to death. When you conform to the physical needs or to the philosophical notion that human life has no rational meaning or order, you are considered a prison or an outsider. The society nonetheless attempts to impose rational explanations or justifications for Meursaults irrational and sinful actions. The courtroom in the novel is used as a significant symbolism about how the author implicitly described the world as prison. The court can be compared to the society as a whole where minor characters reappear as witnesses in the courtroom in their attempt to justify that truly Mersaults actions are wrong and immoral. The law on the other hand functions as the will of the collective people where they present what a person as a member of the society should be and where the restrictions are put to. The crucifix in the novel also symbolizes rational belief structures. When Mersaults rejects Christianity, he automatically rejects all systems and orders that seek to define a rational order within human existence. Mersaults defiance and his passive approach towards the universe without thinking what makes an action good or bad can be branded a threat to the created social order.
The novel One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is a story that describes a single day of an ordinary prisoner set in Soviet labor camp during 50s. Through the main protagonists thoughts, feelings and actions, the readers are able to perceive Russian camp life and its restricted activities. The authoritative oppression and cruelties given to the prisoners from prison officials illustrate how hard it is to be in that kind of situation. The prisoners actions are all managed and supervised by the camps commandment. The prisoners always have tasks to do, have limited rest and they never have free time to be with themselves and discuss important issues. Since survival is of the utmost importance to the prisoners, obedience is such an important virtue inside the camp. The setting and the human experiences literally conform to what a prison in reality is like. The physical and emotional condition of the camp is harsh, reflecting a world that has no tolerance and even small glimpse of independence. The prisoners almost rely totally on each others altruism even for the food their most basic human need. They are forced to overcome prejudices based on ethnic and cultural differences for the good of the group. However, the dehumanizing atmosphere forces the prisoners to discover ways to retain their identity and sense of individuality while conforming to the voiced or unvoiced rules of the camp.
In the novel, one can see the evil or the disadvantages the institutions created to the society that affect every aspect of the prisoners lives in the novel. The system uses the work squads to control and discipline the prisoners through punishment and peer pressure. However what moral compromises do prisoners have to make in order to survive Societies perceived prisoner labor as more than simple punishment or as a reformative experience by which they repay their debts to the society. Their reformative or training experience inside the prison will make them productive members of the society. However the harsh retribution for such small offenses is ironic and absurd. The long and hard prison sentences seems like nothing more than a cruel exercising of power by Soviet officials instead of disciplining. Those institutionalized conceptions made the prisoners lives like hell. Meanwhile the spoon that the main character hides on his boot after every meal represents his thirst for freedom and identity. Though the spoon is a useful tool, Shukhov perceives spoon as something that represents his uniqueness, because the spoon which he hides every time is something that the prisoners do not have. The camp continually tries to destroy the prisoners sense of uniqueness, and Shukhov must hide the spoon every after meal from camp officials in order to preserve the individuality and uniqueness he has carved out for himself in the camp.
Both novels says that the oppressive evil of this age is due to the institutionalized conceptions of what is right and wrong. The collective beliefs of people towards religion forces them to conform to the limitations or restrictions they imposed to the society. Both novels implicitly suggest that if the society is not institutionalized, men will be free to live life for what it is and to make the most of their remaining days. The entire rules and regulations is therefore an example of absurdity or the humanitys futile attempt to impose rationality on the irrational and unpredictable universe.
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