Seinfeld and The Stranger

When I was reading the trial scene in The Stranger I kept thinking of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer were all on trial.  There were lots of similarities between the two trials. When Mersault was on trial the prosecutors focused on  how Mersault was disconnected from society and were trying to show how dangerous he was.   In the Seinfeld episode the prosecutors did the same thing.  Instead of just trying them for laughing at an obese man as he was robbed, witnesses were brought in to show how dysfunctional they were in society.  The characters of Seinfeld also display their own type existentialism. The characters don't fit in with society, they live ,like Mersault, for the present day and rarely if ever looking towards the future.  The characters also do things and say things that would seem immoral but to them is just the truth.  While the characters of Seinfeld don't fully display existentialism, they do have existentialist qualities.

Comments

[Natalie G]

That makes alot of sense to me. I think our justice system often tries people for the "crime" of not conforming to societal beliefs and not necessarily for any actual breaking of the law. However, Meursault did actually kill someone, and they were just laughing at a fat guy.

[Jake]

I thought the same thing!
Glad to know someone else noticed!

[miranda kulick]

thanks!!! my english final was based on connecting the stranger to seinfeld!

[Ilana]

Miranda, where did you get info to connect the two? I also have that subject (and more) for a college seminar.. any tips? thanx!