Is it Worth It

             Is life even worth it? Why wake up, eat, and sleep forever in an endless cycle? While Meursault goes through life in The Stranger, does his life have value when he commits actions? Through Gregor's acts as a vermin in The Metamorphosis, does trying to leave his room really impact his life? Because the constant struggle between doing nothing and taking action bears no winner, are actions worth it? Why do humans even keep trying to conquer life if we know that it will always come back, but we will not?

            Is it better to just observe life, or should someone strain him/herself by taking action? In The Stranger, when Meursault takes action by lying to the police for Raymond, is he not punished later on? Because of this, is the correct idea to not worry about others but only oneself? Later, as he attacks the priest for trying to convince him to believe in God and later is punished for it, does he symbolize the idea that one should not bother with pestering things? Ultimately, when he shoots the Arab to save Raymond's life, by being arrested, tried, and eventually executed, is Camus trying to allude that watching Raymond's life be taken is better than his own? In The Metamorphosis, does Gregor taking a job to pay his family and his own debt lead to his transformation to a vermin? Would he have stayed human if he were to be unemployed? After his transformation, when he confronts his office manager about his tardiness, does the manager's repulsion signify both his disgust with his appearance but also to someone who takes action? Afterwards, when he does the same thing to the boarders in his apartment, does their interest in him show the surprise they have in someone who foolishly commits deeds?

            Is it possible for humans to ever be happy? After doing something of significant achievement, is it almost inevitable for something to happen to dampen the spirits? Because it is a never-ending cycle, why try? When Meursault realizes this in his trial, does he not give up and succumb to conviction and eventual execution? When Gregor finally understands, is it almost incontrovertible that he would let himself die? Because actions seem to bear no impact, and because humans are still alive, why do we exist? Is it just for God to watch in amusement as we constantly fail, bringing a rock to the top of a mountain only to see it fall back down?