Meursault and Maman

When comparing Meursault to other people, one will find that he is certainly unorthodox: he says very little, thinks very little, and feels very little, except for physical contentment, distress, etc.  He responds much more to physical stimuli than emotional stimuli.  This is very evident in his relationship with Marie.  Meursault doesn't seem to have many feelings about anything in particular.  This also shows in his non-judgmental nature.  However, from the beginning, his relationship to his mother is very ambiguous, and unclear.

At the funeral, Meursault does not behave in a common way.  He dozes off, and smokes during the wake, two things that are uncommon, and usually disrespectful.  He does not show much emotion now that his mother has passed; instead, he thinks about food, and fatigue.  In fact, on page 24, he said, "really, nothing had changed."  This shows that he has a somewhat cool attitude to the event.  Before, he talks about it, saying, "After the funeral, the case will be closed" (3).  He calls it a "case"--a very emotionally detached term.  He doesn't really show signs of grief or mourning, except for the black tie and armband.

In spite of all of this, I believe that he did care for his mother.  There are several spots in the novel which suggest this.  When Meursault is lying around his house on Sunday, he remarks that the flat is "too big for [him]."  "It was just the right size when Maman was here"(21). He moves his table into the bedroom, and "only lives in one room."  It is possible then, that he feels different now that she has died.  Later, at the end of Chapter 4, when Meursault is lying in bed, waiting to fall asleep, he "[thinks] of Maman...[he] wasn't hungry, and [he] went to bed without dinner" (39).  For many people, loss of appetite suggests grief.  Earlier, at the funeral, he refuses to see his mother dead.  This to me suggests that he doesn't want to believe that she is dead.

Though Meursault has little emotion, I think that he did love his mother.  The last piece of evidence for this is that he still calls her "Maman"-close to "Mom" or "Mommy" in English.  Throughout the book, he doesn't refer to her as anything else.  Because of this, I think that she meant much more to him than what it appears she did.

A Bug's (After)-Life

Gregor’s transformation and loss of humanity is quite jarring.  In The Metamorphosis, his consciousness stays, but his humanity dwindles.  First, his choice in food changes, then he almost forgets his past, and eventually, he barely eats or moves.  However, he is still moved by his sister’s violin playing.  This suggests a small remaining part of the human Gregor.  This raises a question: does Gregor have a soul?

Kafka was born to Jewish parents in Prague.  I don’t remember it being stated where The Metamorphosis takes place, but Prague is a reasonable guess.  At the time Kafka was writing, Prague was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which was predominantly Catholic.   In the book, Gregor remembers the family celebrating Christmas, and Gregor’s father makes the Sign of the Cross, along with Grete, the mother, and the charwoman.  This suggests that they are Catholic, or Christian.  At this point in the history of the Catholic Church, it was not believed that animals had souls.  (It is still not widely believed).  There certainly wasn’t (and isn’t) any doctrine on people-turned-insects.  Theoretically, he would have one before the transformation, but what about after?

 As Gregor loses his humanity, there are still a few remaining shreds.  Though he is a bug, and his family has given up hope that he remains inside, he still thinks of his family.  He still has some humanity left.  An example of this is when he hears his sister play.  He is enchanted, and walks closer to hear it better.  He eventually starts to walk towards his sister to try to tell her to play in his room, because he is most "worthy" of her playing.  He remembers his plan to send her to the Conservatory, and imagines his sister's reaction when he will tell her.  This is very human, especially his reaction to the music. The narrator presents Gregor's thoughts:

"Was he an animal, that music could move him so? It seemed to him as if the way were opening towards the unknown nourishment he craved."

This "unknown nourishment" seems to be almost religious, and shows the human left in Gregor. 
 Later, when he is dying, "his thoughts went back to his family with tenderness and love."  This shows that he has some humanity left.  In this case, I would argue that he has a soul.  True, his humanity dwindles, but there is some left at the end, and so that is why it seems he has one.  I don't think that Kafka had intention of an exploration of the soul when he wrote the story, but I think it is an interesting thought.

Mike and Brett

     In The Sun Also Rises, we see the entire story through Jake's eyes--all the characters, developments, conversations, are told through his point of view.  This is true with characters' interactions, and they may be somewhat different from what they seem.  A good example of this is the relationship between Brett and Mike.  At the beginning of the novel, it seems to be mostly for convenience on Brett's part.  But, by the end of the novel, it has grown into a more mutually beneficial relationship.

     When we first meet Brett, she is out partying, and Cohn notices her.  He finds her "remarkably attractive", and questions Jake about her (46).  Jake tells Cohn that she is engaged to Mike Campbell, who will "be rich as hell someday" (46).  Though Jake says she loves Mike, Cohn doesn't believe that they will get married, because he thinks Brett would not "marry anybody she didn't love" (46).  Jake responds, saying, "She's done it twice" (46).  Cohn's incredulity and Jake's response suggest that Brett may be wanting to marry Mike just for his money.  

     Mike. however, seems to be interested in Brett from the beginning.  When we first meet him, he can't stop saying how she is a "lovely piece" (84).  Granted, at this point, and at many points in the novel, he is drunk, but he still cares a lot about Brett.  This is clearer later in the novel, when he has trouble knowing Brett is with other men.  He is mad about the relationship with Cohn, and says, "if she would go out Jews and bull-fighters and such people, she must expect trouble" (205-206).  Mike is uncomfortable with her relationships, and drinks out his sorrow.  This shows that he cares about her.

     By the end of the novel, we learn that Mike is a "bankrupt", and is constantly borrowing money.  We know that Brett knows this as well, as she gives Mike the money to pay Montoya back.  She says, "I'm going back to Mike...he's so damned nice and he's so awful.  He's my kind of thing" (247).  These examples show that she cares for Mike, not his money.  At the beginning of The Sun Also Rises, Brett seems to want Mike's money mostly.  But, by the end, we see that she has grown, and that their relationship is much more caring.