The Existential Concept of Authenticity

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An existentialist believes an individual’s existence is absurd unless he adds meaning to it through his own actions. In the novels The Stranger and The Metamorphosis, the authors, Albert Camus and Franz Kafka, tell their stories from different perspectives. Using points of view, the authors show their characters’, Mersault and Gregor, alienation to convey the existential concept of authenticity. One becomes authentic when he or she lives their life according to how they define themselves.

Camus and Kafka both use their own points of view to shape their characters. Written in first person, The Stranger presents the world through Mersault’s perspective. Inside his apartment building, Mersault meets a man who he sees as “a little on the short side, with broad shoulders and a nose like a boxer’s” (Camus 28). We view everything in the novel through his eyes, exhibiting how he interprets the world. There is no empathy or understanding about other characters, showing Mersault’s alienation from everyone. Unlike Camus, Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis in third person. However, the writing style allows the reader to see Gregor’s perspective. In the beginning of the novel, Gregor awakens and realizes he has transformed into a bug. He tries to stand up, but then closes his eyes “so as not to have to see his squirming legs” (Kafka 3). These feelings of disgust become apparent to the reader as they illustrate Gregor’s emotions. Later in the novel, “Gregor the insect is having fun” (Goldfarb 1). He crawls around his apartment and climbs on the walls and ceilings. All of these emotions are expressed through third person; however, the author’s illustration shows them through the character’s perspective.

This use of points of view unve...

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...ter this occurs, he thinks about how he will get to work. Gregor thinks to himself, “Oh God, what a grueling job” (Kafka 3). This shows that becoming a bug was no surprise to him, seeing how it is the way he thought his parents viewed him all along. However, as the novel continues, Gregor begins to take joy in his new transformation. “He especially enjoyed hanging suspended from the ceiling; it was much better than lying on the floor” (Goldfarb 1). Gregor shows his authenticity when he becomes comfortable with his new lifestyle.

In order to show the concept of authenticity, the authors needed to project their characters’ alienation through point of view. Although using different point of views, they both accomplished demonstrating this concept. Albert Camus succeeded by using his first person point of view, while Franz Kafka used his third person point of view.

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