Final Thoughts:
I would like to start out by saying that I really enjoyed this book. I think that Camus is a skilled and intelligent writer, and his writing style is something that one does not often see in literature, aside from Hemingway. The existentialist/absurdist elements of the book were something that I enjoyed as well. I have always been quite interested in philosophy, and Camus presents an interesting and intelligent approach to this. I think that The Stranger has not only ample literary value, but also philosophical and cultural values weaved into the book. Out of all the books that I have read for this class, including three of the four dystopian novels, The Stranger has become my favorite hands down, and I would say that it is now one of all time favorites. I enjoyed the book initially, but my limited knowledge of existentialism and general analysis of the book deprived me of it's true merit. Upon reading it the second time, I found that it was much greater than I had originally found it to be. I believe that The Stranger has rightfully achieved its place in Tigard's IB English Program, as well as its place in regular senior english. This book exposed me to a great author, and I thoroughly look forward to reading more by Camus.
Thesis:
In Albert Camus' The Stranger, through the use of contrast between Mersault's short, declarative sentences and the levity and complexity of Mersault's crime and trial, Camus demonstrates a critical view of the justice system and its religious influences, suggesting that society uses religious morals as its ultimate guiding system.
Map:
This can be seen during Mersault's conversation with the magistrate, Mersault's trial, and his final conversation with the chaplain preceding his execution.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
The Stranger Journal 7: Topic, Quotes, and Thesis
Topic: Mersault's use of short, declaritive sentences.
Thesis: In Albert Camus' The Stranger, Mersault's use of short and declarative sentences provides a contrast between this and the levity and seriousness of Mersault's crime. Through this, Camus expresses a cynical view of society and it's justice system.
1. "...I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all of these people hated me." (90).
2. "'You see, you see!' he said. 'You do believe, don't you, and you're going to place your trust in Him, aren't you?' Obviously, again I said no." (69).
3. "I thought my case was pretty simple.[...]and said he had gone over my file. My case was a tricky one." (63-64).
4. "'Wait a minute! Who's the accused here? Being accused counts for something. And I have something to say!' But on second thought, I didn't have anything to say." (98).
5. "You heard him didn't you? He knows how to answer. He knows the value of words." (100).
6. "I said, almost at random, in fact, that I never intended to kill the Arab[...]I sounded, I blurted out that it was because of the sun." (103).
7. "I thought it was a way to exclude me even further from the case, reduce me to nothing, and, in a sense, substitue himself for me." (103).
8. "...the presiding judge told me in bizarre language that I was to have my head cut off in a public square in the name of the French people[...]But the presiding judge asked me if I had anthing to say. I thought about it. I said, 'No.'" (107).
9. "He told me that I'd have to act as a witness for him. It didn't matter to be, but I didn't know what I was supposed to say." (37).
10. "Marie shouted to me that I had to have hope. I said, 'Yes.'" (75).
11. "'I am convinced, gentlement,' he added, raising his voice, 'that you will not think it too bold of me if I suggest to you that the man who is steated in the dock is also guilty of the murder to be tried in court tomorrow. He must be punished accordingly.'[...]My head was spinning with heat and astonishment." (102).
12. "...and without looking at me he stated that, with the court's permission, he would like to know whether I had gone back to the spring by myself intending to kill the Arab. 'No,' I said. Well, then why was I aarmed and why did I return precisely to that spot? I said it just happened that way. And the prosecutor noted in a nasty voice, 'That will be all for now.'" (88).
13. "The result was our discussions became more cordial. A few questions, a brief conversation with my lawyer, and the examinations were over. As the magistrate put in, my case was taking it's course." (70).
14. "On my way out, I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time, I remembered that I had killed a man." (64).
15. "He asked me if he could sat that that day I had held back my natural feelings. I said, 'No, because it's not true.' He gave me a strange look, as if he found me slightly disgusting." (65).
Thesis: In Albert Camus' The Stranger, Mersault's use of short and declarative sentences provides a contrast between this and the levity and seriousness of Mersault's crime. Through this, Camus expresses a cynical view of society and it's justice system.
1. "...I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all of these people hated me." (90).
2. "'You see, you see!' he said. 'You do believe, don't you, and you're going to place your trust in Him, aren't you?' Obviously, again I said no." (69).
3. "I thought my case was pretty simple.[...]and said he had gone over my file. My case was a tricky one." (63-64).
4. "'Wait a minute! Who's the accused here? Being accused counts for something. And I have something to say!' But on second thought, I didn't have anything to say." (98).
5. "You heard him didn't you? He knows how to answer. He knows the value of words." (100).
6. "I said, almost at random, in fact, that I never intended to kill the Arab[...]I sounded, I blurted out that it was because of the sun." (103).
7. "I thought it was a way to exclude me even further from the case, reduce me to nothing, and, in a sense, substitue himself for me." (103).
8. "...the presiding judge told me in bizarre language that I was to have my head cut off in a public square in the name of the French people[...]But the presiding judge asked me if I had anthing to say. I thought about it. I said, 'No.'" (107).
9. "He told me that I'd have to act as a witness for him. It didn't matter to be, but I didn't know what I was supposed to say." (37).
10. "Marie shouted to me that I had to have hope. I said, 'Yes.'" (75).
11. "'I am convinced, gentlement,' he added, raising his voice, 'that you will not think it too bold of me if I suggest to you that the man who is steated in the dock is also guilty of the murder to be tried in court tomorrow. He must be punished accordingly.'[...]My head was spinning with heat and astonishment." (102).
12. "...and without looking at me he stated that, with the court's permission, he would like to know whether I had gone back to the spring by myself intending to kill the Arab. 'No,' I said. Well, then why was I aarmed and why did I return precisely to that spot? I said it just happened that way. And the prosecutor noted in a nasty voice, 'That will be all for now.'" (88).
13. "The result was our discussions became more cordial. A few questions, a brief conversation with my lawyer, and the examinations were over. As the magistrate put in, my case was taking it's course." (70).
14. "On my way out, I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time, I remembered that I had killed a man." (64).
15. "He asked me if he could sat that that day I had held back my natural feelings. I said, 'No, because it's not true.' He gave me a strange look, as if he found me slightly disgusting." (65).
Thursday, March 10, 2011
The Stranger Journal 6: Questions and Answers
Questions
1. Why does Camus create a protagonist that is seemingly a sociopath?
2. To what purpose does Camus put such emphasis on physical description and feeling, especially regarding colors?
3. Why does Camus choose to give us so little information on Mersault? (His first name, his age, what he looks like, etc.)
4. What purpose does it serve for Camus to place the climax in the middle of the novel? If disagreeable, at what point in the novel is the climax? Is there more than one climax?
5. The city of Algiers has been occupied by various groups and nations throughout history, including both the French and Arabians. What purpose does it serve for Camus to set the novel in this city?
Answers
1. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the creation of a protagonist without motivation suggests that a lack of motivation does not deter an individual from enjoying their life. (#2 from Tanner Bean's blog)
2. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the motif of cigarettes and coffee serve as emotional relief for Mersault, who would rather use substances than communicate with other humans. (#4 from Megan Davis' blog)
3. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the use of short and choppy syntax reflects the emotional state of Mersault who is devastated following the death of his mother. (#2 from Matt Merckling's blog)
4. I believe that the article about the Czechoslovakian serves as another way that Camus portrays the "absurd". I came to this conclusion based off of Mersault's comment following the article: "On one hand it wasn't very likely. On the other, it was perfectly natural." (80). Mersault expresses the miraculousness of the situation, but also states it validity. Thus, life's "absurdity." (#2 on Isabella Lewis' blog)
5. I believe that Camus is not so much suggesting that everyone judges one another, rather that he is trying to portray a feeling of universal judgement towards Mersault. Later in the trial: "...I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me." (90). And earlier in the novel at Maman's funeral: "...I had the ridiculous feeling that they were there to judge me." (10). (#5 on Kevin Li's blog)
1. Why does Camus create a protagonist that is seemingly a sociopath?
2. To what purpose does Camus put such emphasis on physical description and feeling, especially regarding colors?
3. Why does Camus choose to give us so little information on Mersault? (His first name, his age, what he looks like, etc.)
4. What purpose does it serve for Camus to place the climax in the middle of the novel? If disagreeable, at what point in the novel is the climax? Is there more than one climax?
5. The city of Algiers has been occupied by various groups and nations throughout history, including both the French and Arabians. What purpose does it serve for Camus to set the novel in this city?
Answers
1. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the creation of a protagonist without motivation suggests that a lack of motivation does not deter an individual from enjoying their life. (#2 from Tanner Bean's blog)
2. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the motif of cigarettes and coffee serve as emotional relief for Mersault, who would rather use substances than communicate with other humans. (#4 from Megan Davis' blog)
3. In Albert Camus' The Stranger, the use of short and choppy syntax reflects the emotional state of Mersault who is devastated following the death of his mother. (#2 from Matt Merckling's blog)
4. I believe that the article about the Czechoslovakian serves as another way that Camus portrays the "absurd". I came to this conclusion based off of Mersault's comment following the article: "On one hand it wasn't very likely. On the other, it was perfectly natural." (80). Mersault expresses the miraculousness of the situation, but also states it validity. Thus, life's "absurdity." (#2 on Isabella Lewis' blog)
5. I believe that Camus is not so much suggesting that everyone judges one another, rather that he is trying to portray a feeling of universal judgement towards Mersault. Later in the trial: "...I had this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me." (90). And earlier in the novel at Maman's funeral: "...I had the ridiculous feeling that they were there to judge me." (10). (#5 on Kevin Li's blog)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Stranger Journal 5: Part One and Part Two
I think that Camus chose to divide the book into two parts in order to create a separation between Mersault's life before and after the murder of the Arab. I believe that Camus creates this separation because he wants to show a distinction between Mersault before and after the murder, specifically, in that Mersault preceding the murder has not yet come to an existentialist belief of life's meaninglessness. However, there is parallel structure between the two parts.
Firstly, both parts 1 and 2 begin and end with a death. Part one begins with Maman's death: "Maman died today. Or yesterday, maybe, I don't know." (1). And ends with the murder of the Arab: "The trigger gave(...)then I fired four more times..." (59). Part two does not necessarily begin with death, but it does take place right after the murder when Mersault has been arrested, so in that sense the concept overlaps. However, part two does end with Mersault's death, or the implications of it: "...I had only wish that there be a large crowd of spectators on the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate." (123).
Another similarity I noticed between parts one and two is that in part one, Mersault seems feel like he has to state that things are not his fault: "I even said, 'It's not my fault.'" (1). "I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault..." (20). And in part two, Mersault seems to have a hard time grasping the realization that he is a criminal, as though he feels blameless: "One my way out I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time, I remembered that I had killed a man." (64). "I was going to say that that was because they were criminals. But then I realized I was one too. It was an idea I couldn't get used to." (70).
Firstly, both parts 1 and 2 begin and end with a death. Part one begins with Maman's death: "Maman died today. Or yesterday, maybe, I don't know." (1). And ends with the murder of the Arab: "The trigger gave(...)then I fired four more times..." (59). Part two does not necessarily begin with death, but it does take place right after the murder when Mersault has been arrested, so in that sense the concept overlaps. However, part two does end with Mersault's death, or the implications of it: "...I had only wish that there be a large crowd of spectators on the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate." (123).
Another similarity I noticed between parts one and two is that in part one, Mersault seems feel like he has to state that things are not his fault: "I even said, 'It's not my fault.'" (1). "I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault..." (20). And in part two, Mersault seems to have a hard time grasping the realization that he is a criminal, as though he feels blameless: "One my way out I was even going to shake his hand, but just in time, I remembered that I had killed a man." (64). "I was going to say that that was because they were criminals. But then I realized I was one too. It was an idea I couldn't get used to." (70).
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Stranger Journal 4: Six Insightful Questions
1. Why does Camus choose to put such emphasis on physical descripition? I believe that Camus puts emphasis on physical feelings and description in an effort to create a distinct separation between metaphysicality and Mersault. I believe that this is a reflection of Camus' own views, which I believe are probably atheist and materialistic, which is why he would choose to focus on physical feelings/observations.
2. Why is Mersault so reluctant to face the women (Marie and Masson's wife)? "I didn't like having to explain to them, so I shut up, smoked a cigarette, and looked at the sea." (54). "...unable to face the effort it would take to climb the wooden staircase and face the women again." (57). "I wanted to hear the murmur of its water again, to escape the sun and the strain and the women's tears." (57). I have two theories that answer this question, the first is that the women act as a representation of society, which Mersault is reluctant to face. The second is that the women remind Mersault of Maman, specifically when he references their tears, which may make him uncomfortable considering we have yet to see him shed a tear for his mother.
3. Why does Mersault put so much emphasis on the sun? I believe that Mersault often has a negative view of the sun, because it is a representation of civilized society. The sun rises and sets each day, and during the time that it is present it provides the Earth with much-needed light and nutrients. In the same way, a civilized society is what provides an individual with a sense of security and calm. This society/sun parallelism is what Mersault conflicts with throughout the novel, as he is involved in this existentialist crisis.
4. Why does Camus/Mersault often describe people's clothing? I believe that Camus often vividly and descriptively describes clothing because he may want to put more emphasis on the clothes than on the person. This may be a way of separating Mersault from other people, in that he notices what they are wearing more than the way a person acts or feels.
5. When Mersault describes action, his sentences are often very short. However, when he describes setting and imagery, his sentences become more elongated, why is this? I believe that Mersault/Camus chooses to use short, precise sentences when describing action because he does not give alot of thought to it, other than reporting what he has seen/done. When describing setting, I believe his sentences often become longer because they are showing more thought and feeling. I believe this is another way that Camus separates Mersault from the reader, and other people in general.
6. Why does Mersault choose to shoot the Arabian? I think that this is a pretty open-ended question, and that there are multiple ways to interpret this action. The best excuse that Mersault can give later in the book is something along the lines of the sun was bothering him, but this is obviously not a valid reason for murder. I personally think that there is no reason that Mersault killed the Arabian. I think that the absence of a reason, other than the heat, creates a feeling of absurdity and rediculousness, which I believe was Camus' intention. This senseless murder is absurd. But is it possible? Do people sometimes do rediculous and stupid things without really having any reason? The question is rhetorical, but I believe my point is clear. Camus is attempting to say that life is absurd.
2. Why is Mersault so reluctant to face the women (Marie and Masson's wife)? "I didn't like having to explain to them, so I shut up, smoked a cigarette, and looked at the sea." (54). "...unable to face the effort it would take to climb the wooden staircase and face the women again." (57). "I wanted to hear the murmur of its water again, to escape the sun and the strain and the women's tears." (57). I have two theories that answer this question, the first is that the women act as a representation of society, which Mersault is reluctant to face. The second is that the women remind Mersault of Maman, specifically when he references their tears, which may make him uncomfortable considering we have yet to see him shed a tear for his mother.
3. Why does Mersault put so much emphasis on the sun? I believe that Mersault often has a negative view of the sun, because it is a representation of civilized society. The sun rises and sets each day, and during the time that it is present it provides the Earth with much-needed light and nutrients. In the same way, a civilized society is what provides an individual with a sense of security and calm. This society/sun parallelism is what Mersault conflicts with throughout the novel, as he is involved in this existentialist crisis.
4. Why does Camus/Mersault often describe people's clothing? I believe that Camus often vividly and descriptively describes clothing because he may want to put more emphasis on the clothes than on the person. This may be a way of separating Mersault from other people, in that he notices what they are wearing more than the way a person acts or feels.
5. When Mersault describes action, his sentences are often very short. However, when he describes setting and imagery, his sentences become more elongated, why is this? I believe that Mersault/Camus chooses to use short, precise sentences when describing action because he does not give alot of thought to it, other than reporting what he has seen/done. When describing setting, I believe his sentences often become longer because they are showing more thought and feeling. I believe this is another way that Camus separates Mersault from the reader, and other people in general.
6. Why does Mersault choose to shoot the Arabian? I think that this is a pretty open-ended question, and that there are multiple ways to interpret this action. The best excuse that Mersault can give later in the book is something along the lines of the sun was bothering him, but this is obviously not a valid reason for murder. I personally think that there is no reason that Mersault killed the Arabian. I think that the absence of a reason, other than the heat, creates a feeling of absurdity and rediculousness, which I believe was Camus' intention. This senseless murder is absurd. But is it possible? Do people sometimes do rediculous and stupid things without really having any reason? The question is rhetorical, but I believe my point is clear. Camus is attempting to say that life is absurd.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Stranger Journal 3: My World Philosophy
My personal philosophy is called Apodechomaism. This comes from the Greek word apodechomai which means "accept."
2. There is no "free will", everything is determined. When debating this, "free will" often becomes a battle of terminology, so allow me to define "free will" as: "The ability for humans to think, act, feel, etc., completely free from any source of influence." By this, I simply mean that every action has a cause, every action has a reason behind it, which eventually comes down to neurological and physiological processes. Even in the belief that an omnipotent God exists, there is no free will. If God is omnipotent, and being omnipotent can see the future, then he can also see the future of humans, as individuals and as a whole. Therefore, if God knows what is already going to happen, then human fate is already determined. Every action has been decided from the day of birth. I believe that this belief is important because a belief in "free will" or a lack there of can influence an individual's lifestyle.
3. The root of all human behavior is selfish. By this, I mean that every human action has an ultimately selfish source. Think about it, even if one decides to give some spare change to a homeless person they pass on the sidewalk, why do they do this? The answer is that it is intrinsically pleasuring (it makes people feel good on the inside). This principle developed over a period of time and observation, eventually leading me to the realization that nothing is done without reward for oneself. I believe it is important to understand that human behavior is selfish because it allows for people to have a greater understanding of humanity as a whole.
4. Karma does not exist. By this, I simply mean that bad things happen to "good" people, and good things happen to "bad" people, and both these things happen much more often than they ought to. This belief developed mainly during the time that my mom worked with Medical Teams International, and I was exposed to a lot of the poverty, war, and hatred that pollutes much of the world. I believe it is important for people to understand that this is true, because it shows that sometimes the "bad guys" win, and that there is nothing really that anyone can do about it.
5. Morality and ethics are relative. This means that there is no guiding system of ethics that man is born with, everything is acquired over a period of time pertaining to the environment that one is raised in. This belief is something that I have had for a pretty long time actually, and I cannot pinpoint an exact time in which it developed. I believe that it is important to understand the relativity of morality and ethics, because it can provide a much better understanding of other cultures' practices, which may seem strange or unorthodox to one's own system of ethics.
6. Humans are animals. While we may be technologically advanced, walk on two legs, and use language, we are still animals. While evolution is technically a "theory," the amount of scientific evidence behind it is virtually undeniable, and humans possess many of the innate characteristics and instincts of our less advanced ancestors. This belief actually developed quite recently, within the last six or seven months of my life, and I don't really know what caused it. I think it is important to understand this belief because while it is enjoyable to critique, civilized society is the only thing that keeps man from his innate and often violent tendencies.
7. Life has no meaning. This sounds very pessimistic and depressing, but it is actually the opposite in my opinion. People seem to have the belief that if something does not have meaning behind it, it is bad. I disagree, and would argue that the meaninglessness of life is what makes it worth living. I believe that there is no overall purpose to human existence, and that rather, it just simply IS. I would say that this belief developed during my sophomore year, once again from a reason that I cannot identify. I believe that this pillar is important, because acceptance of life's meaningless brings about a certain peace, free from social or religious hierarchy, allowing one to enjoy life boundless.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Stranger Journal 2: Title and Translation
Part 1: Translation
Based off of the work that was done in class today, I personally like the translation by Matthew Ward. I think that the translation by Stuart Gilbert does not possess the authenticity of the original novel. One of the first noticeable signs of this is the fact that Ward keeps the word maman. In doing this, he preserves the connotations of the french term that do not necessarily apply to mom, mommy, or mother. Maman is similar to, but not directly translated from any of the previous terms. It is a pretty affectionate term that English doesn't have an exact word for. Another reason that I prefer Ward's translation is that I think his language is much more concise. Using another example from the first page of the text, in the Ward translation Camus writes that "[t]hat doesn't mean anything." (1). In the Gilbert translation, this same line of text is translated as "[w]hich leaves the matter doubtful." (1). In my personal opinion, I think that The Stranger as a whole is a very stark and precise novel in it's writing, and overall I think that Ward does a much better job of preserving this feeling than Gilbert.
Part 2: The Title
While I really like the title "The Stranger", I feel that the title "The Outsider" is more true to the essence of the novel, it that's not too ambiguous. What I'm trying to say is that it feels like there is a distance in this novel, not only between the reader and Mersault/Camus, but also between Mersault/Camus and the world around them. It seems as though Mersault is often observing and reporting what is going on around him, but he seems to give very little insight into his own opinions other than a short line of text, one example of this is on the bottom of page 31 and the top of page 32, when Mersault is listening to Raymond talk of his ex-mistress: "But first he wanted to ask me something. But before he did, though, he wanted to know what I thought of the whole thing. I said I didn't think anything but that it was interesting." (31-32). Another example of this feeling of "outside looking in" is seen on page 15 during Maman's funeral: "I was looking at the countryside around me. Seeing the rows of cypress trees leading up to the hills next to the sky, and the houses standing out here and there against that red and green earth, I was able to understand Maman better." (15). Again in this line, it feels as though Mersault is somewhat distanced from the world around him, thus why I believe "The Outsider" is a better title.
Based off of the work that was done in class today, I personally like the translation by Matthew Ward. I think that the translation by Stuart Gilbert does not possess the authenticity of the original novel. One of the first noticeable signs of this is the fact that Ward keeps the word maman. In doing this, he preserves the connotations of the french term that do not necessarily apply to mom, mommy, or mother. Maman is similar to, but not directly translated from any of the previous terms. It is a pretty affectionate term that English doesn't have an exact word for. Another reason that I prefer Ward's translation is that I think his language is much more concise. Using another example from the first page of the text, in the Ward translation Camus writes that "[t]hat doesn't mean anything." (1). In the Gilbert translation, this same line of text is translated as "[w]hich leaves the matter doubtful." (1). In my personal opinion, I think that The Stranger as a whole is a very stark and precise novel in it's writing, and overall I think that Ward does a much better job of preserving this feeling than Gilbert.
Part 2: The Title
While I really like the title "The Stranger", I feel that the title "The Outsider" is more true to the essence of the novel, it that's not too ambiguous. What I'm trying to say is that it feels like there is a distance in this novel, not only between the reader and Mersault/Camus, but also between Mersault/Camus and the world around them. It seems as though Mersault is often observing and reporting what is going on around him, but he seems to give very little insight into his own opinions other than a short line of text, one example of this is on the bottom of page 31 and the top of page 32, when Mersault is listening to Raymond talk of his ex-mistress: "But first he wanted to ask me something. But before he did, though, he wanted to know what I thought of the whole thing. I said I didn't think anything but that it was interesting." (31-32). Another example of this feeling of "outside looking in" is seen on page 15 during Maman's funeral: "I was looking at the countryside around me. Seeing the rows of cypress trees leading up to the hills next to the sky, and the houses standing out here and there against that red and green earth, I was able to understand Maman better." (15). Again in this line, it feels as though Mersault is somewhat distanced from the world around him, thus why I believe "The Outsider" is a better title.
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