Holocaust Survivors, the Modern Edgars and Meursaults

                The short passage from Man's Search for Meaning called "Experiences in a Concentration Camp," written by Viktor Frankl talks about his experiences in Auschwitz surrounded by death and despair. Frankl firstly addresses that committing suicide is pointless because eventually, death will come and suicide would be done for you. Being surrounded by great acts of evil, a prisoner becomes numb to the horrible actions done against them and things that would disgust the common man seem like nothing. He also suggests that the only time when someone has indignation is when they are faced with an insult. The world's search for greater or more valuable products is not to have them, but to know yo are greater and more important than the dirt on the ground. As live around oneself becomes worse and worse, a person slips into a state of delusion that is probably better than their present situation.

              This idea of dealing with troubles and the sense of numbness coincides with both characters in King Lear and The Stranger. In Lear, Edgar is forced to run away from his family for fear of his life and persecution for his supposed crimes made up by Edmund. He then goes into disguise as a poor beggar completely giving up his royal and rich past. As he continues his "Poor Tom" act, Edgar becomes more confident in his act and is able to even talk with the now insane Lear as a fellow lunatic. When He returns at the end, Edgar fights and confronts Edmund, totally removing any numbness and bursting to the lies he told. Meursault in The Stranger lives life among people tasting delicacies and adapted to the social culture. But he does not fit in and shows little emotion throughout the book until he is challenged by the religious man before his death. Overall, the parallels between what Frankl experienced and the lives of Edgar and Meursault show interesting connections.