The Stranger: Innocence vs Evil

In this novel, our protagonist, Meursault, is a very strange young man in Algers who lives a very boring, monotone, and simple life that is based off routine. Meursault, throughout the novel, is portrayed to be indifferent, cold, and emotionless to many odd and inhumane scenarios that surround him. Early in the novel, we learn a bit about Meaursault's childhood, as he is describing this once he learns about his mother's death. Meursault shows no emotion to this, and seems indifferent to the fact that his mother has died. The author, Albert Camus, seems to point to the reader that he and his mother may have had a bit of a strained relationship, since he decided to send her to a caring home instead of taking care of her at his house. There is also no evidence that a father or father figure was present during Meursault's life at all. Eventually in the novel, Meursault commits a senseless murder of an Arab, whom he didn't know at all and had only had one previous encounter with him. He kills the arab with 5 shots by a handgun, and claims to have done it because of the "beating, hot sun."

Is Meursault a bad character? I believe he is. Anyone with the mental capability to commit such a horrendous, and senseless crime should be labeled as bad or evil. Taking another persons life isn't the answer, and there should be severe consequences to his actions, which there is. But why did Meursault do this? What made him get to this point? I think Meursault's peculiar and odd character made him kill the arab. And although this is never stated, but is slightly pointed too, his odd childhood had to have been a part of his character and even crime.

Invisible Man: Innocence vs Evil

This novel is a prime example for my belief that all humans are born good and innocent, and only turn bad and evil later in the future due to certain circumstances. Our narrator, whom we never learn his name, is a simple, young, black adult who tries to always do good. He has good intentions to be the best and most successful person he can be, but has certain societal limitations that are holding him back.  He takes advice from his Grandfather to just listen and nod to the white man, because he has all the power and can eventually help you in the end if your worthy enough. The narrator, throughout the book, is good and doesn't do much to harm others in any type of way. He even gets a job to help the African American community in Harlem, New York. He encounters many situations that could change his character and identity into a villain, yet his strong, personal character shows him to stick to his beliefs and only good will come out of it.

King Lear: Innocence vs Evil

A contrasting example which we just read is "King Lear" by Shakespeare. Edmund, a main character who is the "bastard son" of Gloucester, betrays his family in order to help rule England with the two evil sisters, Goneril and Regan. Edmund feels that he has been mistreated his whole life not only by his family, but by society too, purely for the reason that he is and is referred to as a "bastard child." He is deceived as being lower than everyone else because he was an "accident," and he doesn't get the chance to actually show and prove to everyone his real personality, character, and identity. The reader would now believe that because of his neglected upbringing, this results in his jealousy and evil ambition which is slowly displayed as he begins his evil and powerful quest with Goneril and Regan. However, at the end of the play as Edmund is about to die, he proclaims that he was simply born as a natural evil person. Is this true? Can a person really be born evil? Is it be genetic? I don't believe so. I don't believe a person can be born evil without every knowing anything about themselves, the world, and certain values and traits which society carries. Edmund says this to try to ask for forgiveness and remorse for all of his poor actions, which he now realizes negatively affected every character in the play, several of which are his direct family members.

Wuthering Heights: Innocence vs Evil

In Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Heathcliff is the main character in this novel who is a prime example of a character born inherently good and turns evil because of his upbringing. Heathcliff is adopted into the Earnshaw family, and is described as being a normal, quiet, little child who is greatly loved particularly by Mr. Earnshaw and Catherine Earnshaw. However, as Mr. Earnshaw dies, his upbringing completely changes into hell. Heathcliff is poorly treated by Mrs. Earnshaw and Hindley Earnshaw. They neglect him, verbally abuse him, and figuratively make him into the family slave. This goes on for many years, until he is grown enough to take care of himself and fight his own battle. However, these events that took place in his early stage of childhood shape his personality and identity for the rest of his life. He becomes a grumpy, angry, old man who treats everyone else the way he was treated as a child. Because of his early life events, Heathcliff turns into an "evil" person purely shaped by his scarring and neglected childhood.

Brendan's Big Question: Innocence vs. Evil


Throughout literature, society, and all aspects of human life, innocence and evil are displayed. It doesn't matter where you or who you are, there will always be good and evil. Within literature, you generally have a character who is a good, innocent person . This character is generally a young person, who hasn't been exposed to certain types of bad actions or just doesn't understand them yet. And then you have a villain/antagonist who is provoking and aggravating someone or something. Was this atagonist at one time a good, innocent person? Were they born to be evil? Is humankind inherently good or evil?

I believe that humankind is inherently born to be good. All people are born with the slight ability to reason and tolerate certain actions, people, and events. This reason and tolerance suggests that everyone is born with the same instinct and are morally righteous. However, as we all know, mankind isn't all good. There is bad in this world. So where does this bad come from? How does an inherently good child become tainted by evil?

A person's uprising is the most important aspect that contributes to their eventual character and identity. The way they were brought up by their family or guardian suggests the eventual outcome of who they will be. Family/guardian settings is a factor of possible future character and identity. What did their family/guardian believe in? Were they positive? Did they stress morally righteous actions and/or education? All of these are simply small questions that are big factors and can affect a child's upbringing and possibly who they become. Another factor that can turn good into evil are past events. Certain past events and a person's response to those events can trigger a taint from good to evil. For example, a child who is abused by his/her parents may become secluded and eventually full of anger, range, and vengeance. The event of being abused may trigger certain responsive and negative characteristics that will indulge into an evil personality.