Conflict between Independence and Interdependence



Conflict between Independence and Interdependence

Introduction

Exile and kingdom is a book written by Albert Camus which consist of six short stories. These stories show the painful interaction of different people with the world around them. These reflect the unending search of human beings for the identity of their own beings and in the state of “spiritual, physical, mental and sociall exile” for searching the inner kingdom of their existence (Cruickshank, J. 1960). Some of the prominent themes in these stories are exile, solitude, existentialism and the conflict between independence and interdependence. The conflict of independence and interdependence is very dominating in all the characters of these stories.

Thesis Statement

The struggle and the conflict between independence and interdependence are very prominent in all the stories of Camus's Exile and Kingdom.

Discussion

Exile and the Kingdom is an extraordinary work of Albert Camus as it contains the characteristic features of relevance and the harsh realities of this world. The philosophy of human dependency and their need for others is also presented in contradiction with their constant struggle for independence. Camus expertly portrayed the conflict between the human desires for being independent, means it's the basic demand of the individuals to have freedom, and their right to live without obligations and restrictions but on the other hand, in reality it is not possible because of the fact that, no one can live alone. This can also be understand with the main concept of Exile and Kingdom that the characters in the stories are in search for exile, solitude or the struggle for independence and their desires of being on their own, but when it comes to reality, it is the moment of self-realization of their needs of others and the recognition of the fact that how much they are dependent on them. These stories not only- reveal the attempts and desire for independence by different characters but also reflect the fact that it is not possible because they were interdependent and even if they achieved what they desired, the consequences were worst “they are legends of the exile's attempt to enter the kingdom which history has denied” (Camus, A. 1977 pp. 56).

“The Guest”

It is the story with most dominant theme of presenting the conflict between independence and interdependence. The historical back ground of the story also provided the insight of the Algerians revolution of independence as well as the “Arab” as being the prisoner provided the opportunity to realize their own state of imprisonment of the French laws. In this story the conflict for independence can be seen through the school teacher's own choice of living in an isolated place being independent on his own but the moment a police officer brought a prisoner and ordered Daru the school teacher to take him to the imprisonment he realized that he is not free himself.

Despite the fact that school teacher did not want to deliver the Arab to the imprisonment he was bound to follow the orders “Putting a rope around ...