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...
Table of Contents
Two Modern Trials
Camus’ L’étranger and Kafka’s Der Proceß – a Comparison
Objectives and Topics
This dissertation aims to conduct a comparative analysis of Albert Camus' L’étranger and Franz Kafka's Der Proceß, exploring how both novels utilize the theme of a legal trial to examine the human condition, existentialist philosophy, and the concept of the absurd. It questions the extent of Kafka's influence on Camus and investigates how narrative perspective, symbolism, and the nature of "guilt" serve to draw the reader into the characters' internal and external dilemmas.
- Comparative analysis of existentialist themes in 20th-century literature.
- Examination of narrative techniques, symbolism, and the role of the narrator.
- Exploration of the "absurd" and the interpretation of the "trial" as a metaphor for life.
- Investigation into the influence of political and philosophical contexts on literary production.
- Analysis of reader identification, sympathy, and the role of the "blanks" within the text.
Excerpt from the Book
[L’étranger] is like Kafka – whom Camus was reading at this time – but Kafka with major differences. It is Mediterranean and colonial Kafka.
Many authors have been named to have had an influence on Camus’ early work and especially his first novel L’étranger; among these Hemmingway with his plain American style or the character of Julien Sorel from Stendhal’s Le rouge et le noir, Sartre’s Le Mur for an existentialist treatment of those condemned to die and also Baudelaire’s poem L’étranger from Les fleurs du mal.
Yet of all these influences that of Kafka is perhaps the most direct. So much so that it annoyed one of Camus readers, his old teacher Jean Grenier and provoked the following correspondance:
On the 9th of April 1941 Jean Grenier wrote to Camus: “L’étranger très réussi – surtout la deuxième partie malgré l’influence de Kafka qui me gêne”. Towards this Camus replied:
…je voudrais répondre à une seule au moins de vos obversations: l’influence de Kafka. Je me suis posé cette question avant d’écrire L’étranger. Je me suis demandé si j’avais raison de prendre ce thème du procès. Il s’éloignait de Kafka dans mon esprit, mais non dans l’apparance. Cependant, il s’agissait là d’une expérience que je connaissais bien, que j’avais éprouvé avec intensité (vous savez que j’ai suivi beaucoup de procès et quelques-uns très grand, en cours d’assises). Je ne pouvais pas y renoncer au profit d'une construction quelconque où mon expérience aurait moins de part. J'ai donc choisi de risquer le même thème. Mais pour autant qu'on puisse juger de ses propres influences, les personnages et les épisodes de L'étranger sont trop individualisés, trop ‘quotidiens’ pour risquer de rencontrer les symboles de Kafka. Cependant, il se peut que j'en juge mal.
Summary of Chapters
Two Modern Trials: This section introduces the core theme of the comparison between the two novels and sets the scope for the analysis.
Camus’ L’étranger and Kafka’s Der Proceß – a Comparison: The main body examines the structural, philosophical, and narrative commonalities and differences, focusing on the concepts of law, trial, guilt, and the absurd as depicted by both authors.
Keywords
Albert Camus, Franz Kafka, L’étranger, Der Proceß, Existentialism, Absurdism, Literary Comparison, Narrative Perspective, Guilt, Law, Symbolism, Parable, Human Condition, Trial, Meursault.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this dissertation?
The work provides a comparative literary analysis of Franz Kafka’s Der Proceß and Albert Camus’ L’étranger, specifically investigating how they use the theme of a legal trial to explore existentialist questions.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The study covers the nature of law, the feeling of guilt, the narrative technique, the role of the narrator, the symbolism of the environment, and the philosophical underpinning of the "absurd."
What is the primary research goal or central question?
The dissertation aims to clarify the extent of Kafka’s influence on Camus and explore whether these novels function as modern parables for the human condition and the individual's helplessness in an absurd world.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author uses a comparative literary method, analyzing textual evidence, symbolism, and narrative structures while engaging with established academic criticism and the authors' own philosophical reflections.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body delves into the "law" as a despotic or absurd force, the psychology of the main characters (Josef K. and Meursault), the influence of the author’s background, and the way the narrative perspective forces the reader to participate in the act of judgment.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The study is characterized by terms such as Existentialism, The Absurd, Parable, Narrative Perspective, and the specific titles of the two novels analyzed.
How does the author evaluate the "absurd" in both novels?
The author argues that while Kafka’s world of the trial is fundamentally unrealistic and symbolic, Camus’ L’étranger balances realistic detail with symbolic depth, suggesting that both characters are ultimately victims of an absurd system that they cannot influence.
What is the significance of the dialogue with the chaplain in both works?
The author highlights these scenes as crucial structural parallels where both protagonists are confronted with moral or religious authority. The analysis shows that these interactions provide no genuine salvation, reinforcing the characters' isolation and the theme of the futile "trial" of human life.
- Quote paper
- MPhil Rebecca Steltner (Author), 2003, Two modern trials: Camus' "L’étranger" and Kafka's "Der Proceß" – a comparison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13535
