Sun As Social Repression In The Outsider By Camus

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To what extent is the sun an allegory of social repression, and how does this support Camus´ theory of absurdism in “The Outsider”? In The Outsider, Meursault is described by society as a cold-hearted killer, an unethical person and he is categorized as dangerous and evil due to his lack of conformity to society’s accepted standards of behavior. Throughout this essay, the social repression that Mersault is subject to will be discussed, emphasizing on how the sun is used as a symbol by Camus to represent how social repression actually guides Mersault into the path of enlightment. The sun, factor which determined the evolution of life within this planet, is often associated to positive feelings, it is connected to truth and purity, whilst night is popularly believed to be dangerous and threatening. Camus´ in “The Outsider” actually reverses these roles, to Mersault, the sun symbolizes threat and oppression, it is literally described as "inhuman and oppressive.” making nighttime as a period of comfort to Mersault. This allegory is employed within “The Outsider” to emphasize how Mersault simply does not fit into the social speculations and norms. Camus´ uses this to establish the point that Mersault views the world differently to the rest of the people. Uniquely, Camus' usage of the sun opposes its warmth and beauty in The Stranger. The sun is a symbol for feelings and emotions, which Monsieur Meursault cannot deal with. There is a sun motif present throughout the novel, which perniciously characterizes the usual fondness towards the sun. The sun is a distraction from Meursault's everyday life and he cannot handle it. Not only does Camus´ use of the sun express the lack of conformity to social norms by Mersault, but the sunlight is also the determining factor which provoked Mersault to commit a crime. "(The sun) shattered into little pieces on the sand and

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