Two modern trials: Camus' "L’étranger" and Kafka's "Der Proceß" – a comparison

Trabajo Universitario , 2003 , 29 Páginas , Calificación: 67 Punkte (2+) (B+)

Romanística - Estudios comparativos

To begin with I shall present an overview of some of the most common or most debated interpretations of the two novels and the issues they raise. I also question whether it is legitimate to compare Camus’ L’étranger, which is often read alongside his philosophical essay Le Mythe de Sisyph,e to Kafka’s Der Proceß, which might be expressive of a philosophy but whose author only ever expressed himself in literary writing. In the following the novels are then compared simultaneously and their similarities and differences examined from different angles, such as their treatment of their common theme of “law, guilt and trial” in part two, which I see partly under the aspect of the absurd. The idea of the absurd is also relevant when comparing the two main characters Josef K. and Meursault later on.

For the further interpretation of both the characters, but especially to solve the riddles surrounding Meursault’s nature and the questions of reader’s sympathy, the narrative perspective is crucial and is examined in part four. Subsequently, the theme of philosophical ideas being expressed in literary form becomes important again as I look at the use of image and symbolism in L’étranger and Der Proceß as well as at the genres of the French récit and parable and the philosophical and literary implications of the choice of genre, symbolism or narrative perspective.

Kafka’s Der Proceß and Camus’ L’étranger have one important thing in common and that is that both are extremely rich novels which can be read according to a large number of codes (or preconceptions). Camus himself has praised Der Proceß “It is the fate and perhaps the greatness of that work that it offers everything and confirms nothing”, (Sisyphus, p. 124). This is certainly a principle that Camus aspires to in his own fiction and successfully as Thody confirms: “L’étranger seems to be inexhaustible in the different ways in which it can be analysed”3. I hope to be able to do justice to these many angles and show how rich these two novels are.

To summarise some of the many interpretations of Kafka’s Der Proceß let me begin with a political reading...

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Two Modern Trials
• Interpretations of both novels
• The Absurd
• Narrative Perspective
• Image and Symbolism
• Genre

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This dissertation compares Albert Camus's L'étranger and Franz Kafka's Der Proceß, exploring their shared themes of law, guilt, and trial within the context of the absurd. The work examines the novels' narrative techniques, symbolism, and philosophical underpinnings, highlighting the influence of Kafka on Camus.

• The nature of guilt and trial
• The concept of the absurd
• The relationship between literature and philosophy
• The use of narrative perspective and symbolism
• The influence of Kafka on Camus

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The first chapter outlines the main interpretations of both novels, exploring various readings of Der Proceß, including political, philosophical, and psychological approaches. It then introduces the specific lens of the absurd, which will be used for comparison.
• The second chapter delves into the theme of the absurd in both novels, examining how it shapes the characters' experiences and the overall narrative. It also explores the concept of "law, guilt, and trial" as it relates to the absurd.
• The third chapter focuses on narrative perspective, analyzing the impact of first-person narration in L'étranger and its role in shaping Meursault's character and the reader's understanding of him.
• The fourth chapter explores the use of symbolism in both novels, examining how imagery and metaphorical language contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the works.
• The final chapter explores the genre of both novels, analyzing the French récit and the parable, and the implications of these choices for their philosophical and literary impact.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this dissertation include: Camus, Kafka, L'étranger, Der Proceß, the absurd, law, guilt, trial, narrative perspective, symbolism, récit, parable, influence, existentialism.

• Universidad: University of Canterbury (School of European Culture and Languages)
• Calificación: 67 Punkte (2+) (B+)
• Autor: MPhil Rebecca Steltner (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2003
• Páginas: 29
• No. de catálogo: V13535
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783638191746
• ISBN (Libro): 9783638698702
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: Camus, L’étranger, Kafka, Proceß, Vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft, wettersymbolik, weather symbolism