Uttering the term "human existence" generates a broad yet vague topic in the mind. The term requires the answers to many questions about God and religion, about life and its purpose and even about love and its value. Yet no objective answers can be provided. These answers are absolutely open to personal belief and interpretation. Some of these beliefs may seem very accessible to others, while some of them are inscrutable to everyone accept their creators. Consequently, two writers, Naguib Mahfouz and Albert Camus each present views on religion, life and love through the characterization of protagonists in their novels The Thief and the Dogs and The Outsider respectively. Mahfouz shows through his protagonist, Said Mehran that religion is important, that life must have a meaning and that love is important and valuable. Conversely Camus presents through Meursault the protagonist that religion is important, that life is indifferent and without purpose and that love is meaningless. Thus a comparison of the novels shows that Said's views are more accessible to others than the views presented by Meursault.
             In relation to religion, Said respects his religion and appreciates God even though he in unable to follow it himself, but Meursault rejects God completely and does not even acknowledge his existence. In the story Said recalls that as a kid "the joy of Paradise...aroused in him [through his] faith" (Mahfouz 43). Now he is unable to adore such joy as his life is in misery and he is wanted for murder. Yet he still respects religion but only circumstances disallow him from adhering to it. Meursault however has no interest in God and considers Him a waste of time. He says he doesn't have much time left so he does not "want to waste it on God" (Camus 114). To him religion is a waste of time, as he finds no need to worship his creator. He has no fear of God at all, no doubt that He might actually exi...