Sunday, October 26, 2014

Individualists Beware

Frankl's story was beyond powerful, and it provided a valuable insight on psychology as well. I was surprised to hear how easily he took being in the camp at first, and how completely unchanged he was when he was told he was a likely candidate for death very soon. His strength was inspiring, and poses a very nice parallel to the Stranger's Meursault.

Both men seem to lack certain emotions society would deem standard in given situations. In the Stranger, Meursault did not find any reason to feel guilty for his crime, nor any sort of regret or remorse over his mother's death. In Frankl's case, there was a lack of outward fear of impending death, at least initially. I think both case point to a certain philosophy; that it is up to oneself to find meaning in life, to define one's own terms for each emotion one will experience, from happiness to remorse to fear. And though society can greatly influence how one sees the world, it can't define it. However, taken too far, society may cast out what it does not understand.

Be free, but beware.

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