Essay Comparing Masks in A Doll's House and The Stranger (The Outsider)

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Masks in A Doll's House and The Stranger

In the real world there exist many different people, of different

races and ages, each one unique. Some live secluded lives with few friends

and others live very rich and complex lives surrounded by friends and

acquaintances. No matter what type of life is led it is human nature to

adjust one's external personality to suit the specific situation, much like

putting on and removing different masks. People tend to be polite and

respectful to others in public even though they may not know the person

well or not care for them, yet behind closed doors that mask may disappear

and their true feelings may come to the surface. People may adjust their

external behaviour and attitudes when around others because they may not

like their true selves and either want to change themselves or just merely

fit in with society and be liked by others. Another mask that is often

worn is the powerful and superior one and so to feel superior when among

others pushes them around and becomes a bully. This same person could be

gentle, nice and kind when around family but may feel the need to appear

superior around other people. This form of adjusting one's personality or

mask to suit a situation in life, is also common among characters in novels,

dramas, and other forms of literature. In certain characters it is evident

in the novel The Stranger and the play A Doll's House . In some

instances it is quite easy to notice but other times it may be difficult to

identify the changes in character's masks as the changes slowly develop

throughout the plot.

A form of mask wearing was found at the beginning of the novel The

Stranger, where Meursault goes to the beach to go swimming and meets Marie

Cardona. She was lying on a float when Meursault was swimming towards it.

"She turned toward [him]. Her hair was in her eyes and she was

laughing."(20) Later on when both Meursault and Marie go swimming together

"She laughed the whole time,"(20) and then on the dock while they were

drying themselves off Marie playfully says "I'm darker than you."(20) She

puts on a type of giggly, flirty mask when around Meursault, probably

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