In Camus's The Stranger and Kafka's The Metamorphosis, the protagonist finds himself in an extraordinary situation that defies his will. In both novels, this initially unsympathetic character struggles to redeem himself. In doing so, their identity develops and their positive qualities become evident. The characters thus become surprisingly sympathetic towards the reader, and each novel ends on a hopeful tone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayIn The Stranger, the protagonist Meursault can be seen as a cold-hearted killer who is emotionally detached from the world around him. His estrangement from society and his indifference to love and sorrow are blatant. “Mom died today,” he comments, “Or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.” He treats others callously: “She asked me if I loved her. I told him it didn't mean anything but I didn't think so. Meursault focuses only on the physical aspects of life, particularly those related to light and heat: “There was not a shadow visible and every object… stood out so clearly that my eyes hurt. » The central event of The Stranger occurs when Meursault shoots the Arab. The language used in this passage is so elaborate and rich in similes – “The steel…was like a long shining sword,” for example – almost unpicks Meursault's act and makes the reader wonder if he done intentionally or not. : “That’s when everything started to change. The sea carried a thick and fiery breath. It seemed to me that the sky was opening from one end to the other to rain down fire... The trigger fired. Camus detaches Meursault from the action with “The trigger gave,” further insulating Meursault from intention or consequences – and therefore from blame. In prison, Meursault's positive qualities become apparent. He has the option of getting away with a minor sentence, but instead, with "It Was All About the Sun," he admits his guilt. He also appears more sympathetic unlike the unsympathetic judge who “only sees a monster” in Meursault. The reader, who has come to view the murder as unpremeditated, feels the protagonist's defensiveness when the judge wishes Meursault to be sentenced to death and declares: "Never before have I felt this heavy task so fully compensated and counterbalanced, not to say enlightened, by a feeling of urgent and sacred duty. The reader believes that the judge is too harsh on Meursault, misjudging his intrinsically decent (although detached and alienated) character. When the climax is reached and Meursault is sentenced to death, we therefore feel sympathy for this once unpleasant character. Kafka's The Metamorphoses of Gregor initially appears self-centered and unsympathetic. Some evidence suggests that Gregor, unlike Meursault, does this intentionally. For example, the main reason he works so hard and supports his entire family is to appear like a hero: "If I didn't have to hold my hands because of my parents, I would have given in for a long time. » He even gives her priority over romantic relationships, because the photo in his room does not show any personal companion or even a sensual image but rather shows "a lady, with a fur hat and a fur stole, sitting upright." Gregor's transformation into a beetle can be viewed in two ways. On the one hand, we regret that he is transformed, for no particular reason, into a disgusting beetle. On the other hand, we feel that he deserves it, considering that his life seemed very hollow.