Albert Camus The Stranger and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot :: comparison compare contrast essays

Albert Camus The Stranger and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot Many differences and similarities are found between Albert Camus novel, The Stranger, and Samuel Becketts play, Waiting for Godot. The characters in each story is in truth different from their society and at the same time, thy are very similar to each other. To understand in what ways they are similar, there must be and understanding of how they are different from the society in which they live in. First of all, the major difference from the novel and the play is their desire for Gods salvation. Recall when Meursault was in jail, he did not want the magistrate to pray for God to save his soul unlike Vladimir and Estagon, who grasps many years for their god. They both live their life for one reason to wait for Godot. However, to wait for someone who is not going to come is just as pointless as not doing anything at all, just like Meursault who lives his life at the spur of the moment. Neither of them makes i mportant goals in their lives. Meursault can care less about his promotion and Vladimir and Estragon could deliver done something worth while with the decision fifty years of their lives. Because of this, they found ways of passing time. Vladimir and Estragon tries hanging themselves and call each other names while Meursault goes smoking, drinking with Raymond, listen to Salamando and have casual sex all because they do not have anything else to do. They all feel their very existence is insignificant. Whether they live or died would not change anything. ane life is as good as another. Vladimir and Estragons expression of their emotions contrast to Meursaults lack of emotions. After Vladimir and Estragon fight, they resolve their disputes by embracing each other. Meursaults honesty prevents him from show any emotions that he does not have. These ways of expressing their emotions reveals their views of life. Meursault knows who he is in life but is just indifferent to it . He did not care if everybody thought he was strange or his associates is a pimp. However, Vladimir and Estragon does not know who they are in life. To wait for someone who is not coming is pointless.