The Stranger: How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently

The most significant event in Meursault's life in The Stranger by Albert Camus is when his mother died. This event was so significant because it set up the later events in the novel. The reader had never known Meursault before his mother's death; therefore, the reader is unable to establish his character before her death. From the beginning of the novel Meursault seems very amoral and emotionless. It is never clear why Meursault is like this.

Connections can be drawn from his mother's death, and the shooting of the Arab. It can be speculated that Meursault had shot the Arab in that situation because he had never dealt with his true emotions from his mothers death. The sun was beating hot on his face and he had been blinded by the sun (possibly a symbol for truth).

Meursault had been sent to prison where at first he had thought he could get used to anything. And he could, he got used to prison but in the same breath he had realized that he was not happy in prison. He was happy in his old mundane life and now he had realized his life was ruined. Prison altered Meursault's life negatively. However, Meursault's life was not permanently negatively altered like many of the other characters in the past novels. Once sentenced to death, he had realized the meaning of his life and it was a sort of freedom for Meursault. The moment he was facing death he had realized that he was content: "As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself-so like a brother, really- I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again,"(123 Camus).

Invisible Man: How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently

In Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, the narrator experiences a negative event that permanently altered his life.

The nameless, faceless man known as the narrator of Invisible Man walked the reader through many of the issues African-Americans faced in the early twentieth century. The story began in a very southern, very racist town. From the very beginning of the novel, the narrator made his invisibility clear. He kept himself invisible to the reader and he established the invisibility he felt from society. While in college, the college president, Dr. Bledsoe, expels the narrator and sends him to New York City. He is sent to the hustle and bustle of New York City where people play the game. And only a few win. Throughout the narrators journey in New York he is always being pushed to break and lose the game. He is always pushed to be a fool and not see the truth in his reality. In Invisible Man, the narrator seems to be winning at the New York game until a white man asks him to join the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood, at first comes across with good intentions. Even the reader's perception is foggy on their true intentions. Once the narrator realizes the Brotherhood's true intentions he becomes furious. In a way, the brotherhood stole his innocence and turned the narrator into a fool and greatly deceived him. the narrator lost the game and demanded revenge on the brotherhood. His life basically then crumbled around him. He set fire to a tenement building and fled. He ended up living underground for a while.


Unlike King Lear, Wuthering Heights, and Oedipus Rex, the character in Invisible Man had a great realization and his story didn't end up in complete tragedy. While moving to New York permanently made an impact on the narrator. The events that occurred didn't negatively impact his life forever. He was able to understand the consequences of his actions (supporting a corrupt equality group). And he realized he must stay true to being an individual.  Isolating himself from society allowed him to self-reflect and understand individuality trumps conformity.

King Lear: How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently

King Lear by William Shakespeare contains many pivotal moments that created a very dramatic play; Shakespeare used his signature move of, “it’s not a Shakespeare play unless everybody dies.” Many characters in King Lear experienced a negative event that caused a permanent impact on their lives.

The first significant negative event in King Lear was when King Lear disowned his only loyal daughter, Cordelia. This event changed the path of Lear’s life because it essentially causes his own downfall. In the moment for his own want for empowerment he misjudged his daughters loyalty in order to maintain his social standing. He seemed like a good old man because he would usually be associated will morally correct and noble because he is labeled a king only to have that title ripped from him,  and left to live life as a peasant blind man all due to one rash decision he made. Unlike many characters in literature, King Lear basically chose his own fate by the decisions he made. Usually, characters are forced their fate by a bigger fate, but not good ol’ Lear.

A victim to King Lear’s power was Cordelia. Cordelia was the one true daughter to King Lear, only to be excommunicated from the throne. She was a character who had little control over the fate drawn for her. While dealt only bad cards throughout the play Cordelia always represented the purity and kindness of humanity. Always being by her father’s side. In the end of the play, Cordelia was made to suffer through her father. He was ill and didn't recognize her. By King Lear’s blindness in her true loyalty, he made them both suffer and they were ultimately hung at the end of the play.  

Oedipus Rex: How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently

In Oedipus Rex by Sophocles Oedipus the main character Oedipus experiences the life changing event of seeing the oracle and it altered his life in a very negative way.

Oedipus had been living with adoptive parents when he met with the oracle and had been told that he would kill his father and marry his own mother. Hearing this news he fleas his town to avoid his told fate and he ends up running right into his destiny. While at a literal crossroad he faces a quite symbolic crossroads. Deciding what direction he would take determined the outcome of his life. He took the road that was most traveled by and ran into his legitimate father. And killed him. 

Seeing the oracle was very significant to Oedipus and had a domino effect and caused many other significant events in his life. He experienced killing his father and marrying his mother. Killing his father in turn sort of guaranteed him marrying his mother. 

When Oedipus realized that he had married his mother he went insane. He blinded himself and had a significant downfall. 

Going to the oracle essentially ruined his life. By trying to avoid his  fate he ran right into his fate told by the oracle. 

Wuthering Heights: How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently?

 

In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Catherine and Heathcliff both experienced significant events that negatively altered their lives permanently. 

Catherine, as a child, wandered away to Thrushcross Grange with Heathcliff where she was attacked by dogs and was immobile for a matter of weeks. Catherine, being attacked by dogs, was the most critical point in the novel. This event changed the remainder of her life. While she was away at Thrushcross Grange she transformed from an educated girl to a well-mannered, intelligent young lady. Her status changed as well as her outlook on her own life. Thinking it was in her best interest she decided that Edgar Linton was better equipped to be her husband. She wanted a successful future, but that ended up backfiring on her. She lived a life of false happiness and in the end she went mentally crazy and the drama of the conflicting loves became too much. Although, there is no way to know for sure the outcome of Heathcliff and Catherine's life if Catherine would have chosen Heathcliff over Edgar, Catherine's decision caused her own tragic downfall.

Heathcliff had a seemingly dead end life until Mr. Earnshaw took him under his wing and brought him up as his own son. In the beginning, this event was foreseen to only have positive effects on Heathcliff because he went from being a homeless gypsy to being raised as a wealthy son. When he was brought to Wuthering Heights he met Catherine Earnshaw, quickly, they both fell in love. Heathcliff’s life was permanently changed because his love was so strong for Catherine that Heathcliff felt forced to take revenge on everyone who kept her from him. Heathcliff forever lived in bitterness and hate because of his earning love for Catherine.  

            In Wuthering Heights significant events negatively impacted the characters because of their emotions. The characters in Wuthering Heights were controlled by their emotions and they made decisions based on their emotions which only lead to a downfall. Heathcliff's thirst for revenge was fueled by his unbreakable love for Catherine and the earning his heart had for her. And Catherine was negatively impacted because her emotions were split between Heathcliff and Edgar which lead to a huge conflict. Even though Catherine made a very logical decision to marry Edgar she had chose to keep in contact with Heathcliff which created a separation between Edgar and Catherine. 

How do significant events negatively impact a character to alter their lives permanently?

This questions interests because it sparks excitement in me. I want to learn more and research more about it. The fact that the answer may be illogical or up for interpretation makes me want to dig deeper into the depths of this question and gather research and other people's thoughts. To put it in simple terms, when I was young my parents got divorced, this could be a prime example of how a major life event could change the outcome of my life. Whether in the amount of relationships I wish to pursue, or the type of relationship I would like to pursue. These decisions could ultimately pivot my life in a completely different direction.

In other classes I've read books such as Into the Wild, The Scarlet Letter, and The Great Gatsby that have demonstrated that one major decision in the characters life has shaped their whole outcome and how they perceptive life. In Into the Wild the main characters father had been unfaithful to the whole family by being illegally married to his current wife and have a secret second family. When Chris finds out about this it seems to shape his whole decision to never stop traveling and never create a long term relationship.