Ethics: From a Nobel Laureates Point of View

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The literary genres of Absurdism and Existentialism for centuries have allowed not only people but also many authors to search for the inherent meaning in their lives. Nobel Laureates such as Albert Camus, author of “The Guest”, and Nagib Mafouz, author of, “Zaabalawi” use their literature to answer this essential question their short stories through many ethical ideals apparent in society. Through expression of common philosophical ideals such as the freedom to choose and the ideal of accountability, both authors provide readers with a deeper insight into ethics and demonstrate that politically based decisions are more effective in Camus’ short story, and that religiously based decisions are more effective in Mafouz’s short story. In “The Guest” the reader observes the protagonist, Daru, in an internal conflict with himself in which he does not know how to deal with. It is evident through Daru’s inability to arrest the prisoner that he is going through an identity crisis with the prisoners arrest and subsequent imprisonment, due to his inherent ethical understanding of the polit...

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