Mind–Body Conflict and Moral Consciousness: Rethinking Descartes and D. H. Lawrence in Albert Camus’ A Happy Death
M Thommai Michael, J Jebaraj Kingsly Zechariah
International Journal of Research in English March 1, 2026 DOI: 10.33545/26648717.2026.v8.i3a.658 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Ideology Embodied cognition Consciousness Context archaeology Subject documents Epistemology Aesthetics Psychoanalysis |
| Key points | Argues that Zagreus represents a Cartesian subject and Meursault's consciousness embodies D. H. Lawrence's philosophy of blood-consciousness. |
Abstract
Patrice Meursault and Zagreus, the two pivotal characters of Albert Camus’s A Happy Death (1971), are being examined and interpreted in the light of the shown ideologies of René Descartes and D. H. Lawrence. The research explores the novel and ideologies in the manner of ethical philosophy. The paper explores Zagreus as a Cartesian subject and Meursault's embodied consciousness in the context of D. H. Lawrence's philosophy. The novel narrates the story of Meursault and Zagreus, a wealthy cripple; he ends his life. Meursault took his wealth to accomplish the philosophy of Zagreus; eventually, he realized the importance of physical objects, which is D.H. Lawrence’s blood-consciousness.