On the surface, Albert Camus’s The Stranger (The Outsider) was about a misguided man and his sudden, fatal tribulation. Covertly, a second, more heart-grasping plot occurred in the novel. It involved a misfortuned widower and his side-kick of a dog. This scenario can be sharply contrasted to Meursault’s insensitivity toward all life (and beyond). Purposefully, this contrast will evidently prove the case that Camus employed a broad range of multipersonality to enhance his novel and, perhaps, to illustrate the keen differences in people.
Salamano, the widower, was afforded the dog shortly after the passing of his wife. Apparently, he showed no regard or value for her, for “he hadn’t been happy with her, but he’d pretty much gotten used to her” (Camus 44). The dog was to fill the void in his life. He often pampered the dog and lavished it with gifts. When the dog took ill, he nourished it back to a considerable health. However, soon afterward he became indifferent to the dog. He began verbally and physically abusing the dog. His second “marriage” mirrored the one with his wife profoundly. The dog eventually ran off to escape the punishment, and once again Salamano experienced a life of solitude. He did not get over this loss as well or as soon as the one of his wife. He came to the realization that he had taken life for granted. To prove this, he rarely socialized prior to his dog’s disappearance; after losing the dog, though, he offered his hand to Meursault in kindness (Camus 46).
Meursault, in contrast, does not change his mental attitude at all in the novel. His time was precious, for he could correspond with no one unless arrangements had been made in advance. He was very disrespectful and unsensitive, and he was very open about this fact. One aspect of his attitude was the relationship between him and Marie. She was only a sex object to him. He based their relationship solely on sex and sexuality. He most definitely talked with her, but he did not truly care for her.
Essay on The Holy Bible – The Nature of God in the Genesis
The Nature of God in the Genesis
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It begins with the story of God’s creation of the universe. The Lord is the Almighty Creator of the world, skies, heavens, seas, animals, man, and woman. He governs the universe and develops relationships with man. Throughout Genesis, God acknowledges the fact that human beings make mistakes, and accepts their imperfection. Throughout Genesis, God changes from one who does not tolerate disobedience, to one who shows clemency. Early on in Genesis, God punishes Adam and Eve for disobedience. After making the mistake of flooding the world, the Lord realizes that even He is not perfect, and does not allow Jacob’s deceit of his father to taint his future.
In the story of Adam and Eve, God severely punishes the first two humans for disobeying his orders. Upon placing Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God commands “…the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, though shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (15). After Adam and Eve disobey, God is outraged and punishes them severely.
“I will greatly multiply thy (woman’s) sorrow and they conception…and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said…cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shall thou eat of it all the days of thy life;…And unto Adam he said, in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, til though return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (16-17).
God’s punishment to women is especially harsh, for he makes childbirth treacherous for them, and appoints man as their ruler. To Adam, the Lord says that man is not imm…
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…h can be seen from the story of Adam and Eve. After creating a flood that destroys the entire world, God realizes that He has made a mistake. He assures Noah that He will never do it again. The Lord learns from his blunder, just like humans learn from theirs. God accepts the fact that no one is flawless, and no longer punishes every wrongdoing. He is aware that if even He, the Lord, can sometimes show poor judgment, humans should have the privilege of a second chance. For example, God gives Jacob a second chance when he does not punish him for deceiving his father. Rather than penalizing Jacob, God ignores his sin, and blesses Jacob, allowing him to prosper. As is frequently the case with humans, God’s nature changes as He is exposed to new experiences. Throughout Genesis, the Lord transforms from on who does not tolerate disobedience, to one who shows mercy.