Theme of "Life is Meaningless" in Hamlet and The Stranger

A perception towards life is flexible depends on the way people consider the meaning. There are many ways to examine life and to believe however way one wants. When observing life with the concept of death, some people could not care less about how they live their own lives. Death is inevitable for all those who are born as a human. By taking death into account, many decide to follow their own will and act accordingly. In William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Albert Camus's The Stranger, both protagonists share homogeneous philosophies that their lives are meaningless, which concludes nothing matters and isolates themselves from society, leading to the antagonist.

Both protagonists in their respective works detach themselves from society to act upon their own will. When taking death into account for the consideration of meaning in life, both protagonists have concurred that their life is meaningless. In Hamlet's scenario, after knowing the truth about King Hamlet's death, he faces a moral dilemma that differs himself from religion, ethics, and emotions. This eventually leads him to be independent in the world that he exists. After having a conversation with the ghost, which to be known as King Hamlet, Hamlet puts more trust in him than those around him. In the play, Hamlet talks to Horatio after the sparking play, which leads Hamlet to be active; he states, "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound" (Hamlet 3.2.312-313). Hamlet does not trust anyone but the ghost that he believes to be exist. The ghost may be real to Hamlet, yet this does not occur to everyone in the play since Queen Gertrude could not see the ghost when he talked to her. Meursault also isolates himself from society by refusing to follow the expectations that he must live up to. After Marie came to see Meursault to know whether he is interested in marrying her, Meursault replies, "I didn't say anything, because I didn't have anything to add, so she took my arm with a smile and said she wanted to marry me" (Camus 42). The sentence "I didn't have anything to add" is repeatedly stated in the novel, which demonstrating that Meursault truly believes his response towards people or even society would be pointless. He isolates himself from society as his response will become a fruitless statement scenario. There is a distinct connection between Hamlet and Meursault for isolation from society. Both do not believe that society will take their words seriously, and it would not matter much. So, why would they have to worry about anything when they are all going to die. The critical factor for the way they both have isolated themselves from society is that they have concluded that life is meaningless.

The reason why they act in specific ways is causing by their homogeneous philosophy that their life is meaningless. When the readers break up the statements from Meursault, it is clear that he does not care about the course of his life. There is no strong ego that motivates him to work hard or live life to its fullest. As the days get closer to his execution day, he informs, "everybody knows life isn't worth living. Deep down I knew perfectly well that it doesn't much matter whether you die at thirty or at seventy, since in either case other men and women will naturally go on living – and for thousands of years" (Camus 114). Meursault simplifies the meaning of life by taking death into account. When people live, they could live as much as they want but not be able to avoid death. A similar philosophy appears in the play Hamlet. When Hamlet is at his battle with Horatio, he asserts, "Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander/ returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth/ we make loam; and why of that loam whereto he/ was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?/ Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay,/ Might stop a hole to keep the wind away./ O, that that earth which kept the world in awe/ Should patch a wall t' expel the winter's flaw" (5.1. 214-223). Hamlet brings up the example of influential people in the past to delivers his message. No matter how powerful the individual was in the past and has put outstanding effort into the life, the one will die and become dust as nobody cares. Meursault and Hamlet share this philosophy since they genuinely believe so. They know that their lives would not matter much to society, so they isolate themselves and live accordingly on their own will. They both following the concept of existentialism that nobody is in an account of their life but them. Hamlet often portrays an existential character by questioning life, and its meaning, and purpose. So is Meursault. He has demonstrated the concept through his action, for instance, his reaction to his mother's death. Meursault often rushes to the conclusion and seeing the story from a one-sided perspective. The existentialism concept can explain Meursault and hamlet's actions and statements that they believe their life does not matter. As they believe their faith deeper, they start to realize that they have no power in reality.

After knowing that death is inevitable and life is meaningless, these factors lead both protagonists to feel powerless with their actions and statement. Hamlet feels powerless after deciding to kill Claudius, yet he only speaks and never makes an action to reach his goal. He is ashamed of how much power he acquires, later realizing that he is procrastinating and failing to avenge his father's death. Hamlet expresses the emotion of frustration after failing to take an act of revenge, "What an ass am I! This is most brave,/ That I, the song of a dear father murdered,/ Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,/ Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words/ And fall a-curing like a very drab" (Hamlet 2.2.610-615). Hamlet notices the powerlessness within himself. He understands that life is meaningless and to act upon his will, yet he has not taken an action that he desires to take. Hamlet can be compared with the example of futile labor of Sisyphus, who fails to face reality but only to have thoughts. Hamlet knows who the murderer of his father is and has an intention to kill Claudius, though he still cannot go against the murderer. Hamlet is indecisive, rather than making an action which makes him a Sisyphus-like. He feels powerless even though he is following the concept of existentialism. This can also be seen in Meursault, who refuses to follow morality and law. After murdering an Arab, Meursault has been sent to court to judge his case. However, Meursault has no power to speak with himself to justify, "In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my participation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion" (Camus 98). Even though the case relates to Meursault, he is powerless under the law and lacks morality. Meursault is supposed to create his fate through his own will, but he has had no choice but to listen. Meursault has no power to involve or to speak up. Hamlet, Meursault, and Sisyphus experience different scenarios. However, there is a common between each one of them. They are all sharing the same beliefs that they are the one who is in charge of their life yet has no power to come to an action. They could say as much as they want, but to observe when facing reality. Their beliefs may be justified through their observation and experience in life, yet they cannot even satisfy their own will.

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet and Albert Camus's The Stranger, both protagonists have concluded that their life does not matter, which eventually leads them to isolate from society and become the antagonist of their stories. Two key factors have led them to the conclusion of life is meaningless for both characters: Death and powerlessness. Death is an inevitable event that all humans must go through, and after death, nobody cares about one's existence. Even when living a life, one may suffer from powerlessness due to the small impact on society or even oneself. These two factors lead Meursault and Hamlet to think in a certain way that is unusual for ordinary people and to become the antagonist in their own story.