Journal 19

My Thesis:

Albert Camus uses motifs of Saturdays and Sundays, waking up, and the myth of Sisyphus to show the futility of the human cycle of emotional vulnerability and suppression.

Any changes???

Journal 18

Well, from the first moment I picked the book up, I thought The Stranger was an awesome book.  That being said let me clarify that I hate looking at this book with regard to the absurdist, existentialist view.  When looking at the book like that, it is dry and repetitive, and complicates a somewhat simple idea, and contradicts itself.  BUUUT if you ignore that part, I like this book.

The first reason I liked this book, is that my first impression after speeding through it was what is best described as "woah".   I realized that for the first time in a while, I had little idea what the heck I had just read.  I then questioned the effect of a book that does this.  Is it a beautiful thing?  I thought, technically someone could just write incoherent and unrelated babble and call it a story, and I should be amazed by this logic.  But then it hit me, what I liked about this book was not it's complicated nature, but rather, the way Camus linked his motifs (whether simple or complex), to relate to a theme.  While the motifs were up to personal perception, the themes they point to could come together smoothly. 

The second reason was that I like Camus' ability to say something by saying the opposite.  For example, I perceive Mersault as a deeply emotional person, although upon first read he is viewed as a horrifyingly unemotional one.  He is described as emotional in the sense that he puts so much effort into not NOT being emotional.  I thought that was cool.

I think simply because of the unique writing style and qualities alone, this book should be taught in schools.  I would just plead, for the student and teacher's sake, that it is not related to existentialism.

Journal 17

Thesis: Camus uses waking up to mirror the myth of Sisyphus and show the futility in running from emotions.

Quotes:

1. "And when I woke up, I was slumped against a soldier who smiled at me and asked if I'd been traveling long.  I said, "Yes," just so I wouldn't have to say anything else." (pg 4)
2. "It was a rustling sound that woke me up.  Because I had my eyes closed the whiteness of the room seemed brighter than before.  [...] that old women can have." (pg. 9-10) *SHORTEN*
3. "I remember opening my eyes at one point and seeing that all the old people were slumped over asleep, except for one old man, with his chin resting on the back of his hands wrapped around his cane, who was staring at me as if he were just waiting for me to wake up.  Then I dozed off again.  I woke up because my back was hurting more and more."  (pg.11)*Running from emotions.  old man represents (?)*
4. "And when the bus entered the nest of lights I knew I was going to go to bed and sleep for twelve hours." (pg 18)
5. "As I was waking up, it came to me why my boss had seemed annoyed when I asked him for two days off: today is Saturday" (pg.19)
6. "I had a hard time getting up, because I was tired from the day before." (pg.19)
7. "We lay on the float a long time, half asleep." (Pg. 20) EMOTION RUN
8. "When I woke up, Marie had gone. [...] I remembered it was Sunday, and that bothered me: I don't like Sundays." (pg.21)
9. NOTE: 24-25 and 33-34, does not talk about sleep before next day.  Work/ schedule is a form of escape, sundays and saturdays different because he is not busied and can face emotions?!?!?!?  Pull quotes from there for sure, need to refine it.
10. "I must have looked tired, because Raymond told me not to let things get to me.  At first I said I didn't understand.  Then he explained he'd heard  about Maman's death but that it was one of those things that was bound to happen sooner or later.  I thought so too." (pg. 33)
11. "She left at one o' clock and I slept awhile" (pg 37) When alone, sleeps more.  more emotions to reflect on.
12. After feeling bad for Salmano, pull that part in, "For some reason, I thought of Maman.  But I had to get up early the next morning.  I wasn't hungry, and I went to bed without any dinner." (pg 39) no physical need, so run from emotions.
13. "I had a hard time waking up on Sunday, and Marie had to call me [...] laughed with delight." (pg.47) SIMPLIFY
14. "The warmth from her body and the sun made me doze off.  Marie shook me and told me Masson had gone back up to the house, that it was time for lunch." (pg 51)
15. "the day i buried Maman, I was very tired and sleepy" (pg 65).

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND obviously I need more quotes from later in the book.  I will also pull stuff from the green packet to link Sisyphus.  But alas, it is 1:24 in the morning, and surely enough, if I do not go to sleep now, I will in English class.   So, I must bid my laptop adieu, and like Mersault, sleep to run away from my inevitable punishment of school.  hahaha.

Journal 16

1. Why does Camus use a motif of Sundays and Saturdays when describing events essential to the story?
2. Why does Camus use a repetition of the numbers 2 and 4 when describing quantity of physical objects?
3. Why does Camus use strong imagery when describing the beach, but nowhere else in the book?
4. What is the purpose of Camus using long sentences to describe physical aspects of the world around Mersault, and short sentences to describe people and conversations?
5. Is Camus using Salmano and his Dog to represent morality, or a lack of it?

Answers:

• (Q#1 Tate) Camus uses short, precise sentences to highlight Mersault's linear, but broken thought process in reference to traumatizing events (the death of Maman in the beginning).
• (Q#1 Hannah) Camus uses the sun to represent a pressured feeling, whereas, the more intense the qualities of the sun, the more pressure Mersault feels.
• (Q#4 Matt) I believe Camus uses the everyday routine in the book to simply highlight the parts (Saturdays and Sundays) that are not part of the everyday schedule.  I believe this is linked with the reason he describes the beach in such great detail.  Almost saying that the day-to-day is something that needs to be escaped.
• (Q#1 Tanner) Camus uses the environment to develop character's emotion to show that emotion is a unique concept. While it is a common thing in all humans, it is what one makes it. The environment around someone often can shape their emotions, especially if the person gives no effort to control it themselves.
• (Q#2 Shannon) Camus uses the dog to represent morality, and the development of the lack of it throughout the book, eventually leading to the end of morality (when the dog runs away).  The negative actions upon the dog mirror the negative (by societal standards) actions taken by Mersault.

Journal 15

I think Albert Camus had obvious purpose in dividing The Stranger into two parts.  I'm going start with the fact that he starts part 2 right after the shooting.  The immediate shift in not only the structure of the book but also Mersault's feelings and attitude is highlighted by the abrupt stop in writing.  This abrupt stop in the middle of the climax also places extreme intention and purpose in a small amount of space.  Another reason Camus did this was to divide Mersault's problems and reactions and thoughts towards those problems.  In part 2, he has to overcome being the judged.  He is the physical object in the "absurdist" courtroom.  whereas, in part 1, Mersault was a fairly unjudgemental person and was not usually the target of the absurdism.

Another big thing i noticed was the Mersault plans everything very heavily and thinks in a very linear fashion, with simple jumps back in the line of his thought process to more looming things.  In part 2, he has this freedom taken from him.  this may be related to the whole "active consciousness" part of absurdism.  He can't think the way he wants, and he cannot set his planned schedule.  In effect, this takes away his free thought which takes away his free action.

Journal 14

6 questions from chapter 6, with some notes pointing towards an answer.

1.   Why does Camus include Mersault's cigarette tasting bitter?  I believe there are 2 possible reasons Camus could be doing this.  He might be setting a tone for the "waking up" feel and the bad taste in one's mouth.  Or, he may be giving us an opinion about Mersault, that he is somewhat of a loser. 
2.   Why was Merault's statement not checked?  I think apart from the possibility of the ever-present sexist undertone, I think this was to highlight the obsession with justice applied to Mersault later in the story.   
3.   Why is Masson's tendency of "and I'd even say" repeated?  Because of the way Mersault describes this I think that this is supposed to show Mersault's opinion that some things don't matter.  And it creates a dichotomy of things that matter vs. things that do not.
4.   Why does Camus go into greater description of the beach tan anywhere else?  I think there are to possible reasons for this.  Firstly, he may be doing this in order to establish the beach as a place of significant importance, and almost foreshadowing the major event that will happen there.  Secondly, he may be creating a closeness for the reader with the relaxed way Mersault is describing and acting on the beach.  Because when Mersault has a distance from the emotional world, this creates an opposite effect.
5.   Why does Mersault refer to characters by nationality (Parisian, Arab)?  Well, I noticed the whenever Mersault does this, it is only to smaller, flat characters.  So I think he is almost describing them not necessarily in a racist manner, but rather that they are "one of the group".
6.   When describing days, Sundays and Saturdays are constantly referenced, why?  I'm not completely sure why Camus does this.  I've noticed that during the week Mersault is stuck in the day by day cycle, where nothing new happens.  So maybe it is supposed to represent freedom or something or a change in his schedule which he normally has planned out to the bone.

Journal 13

My philosophy is called religionist selfism, and is based off the belief that whether subconsciously or consciously, every action done is purely for the benefit of one's self.  That being said, people can still choose to pursue beneficial outcomes for themselves that can in turn also be for the betterment of those around them.

1. The advancement and development of human, animal, and nature is by process of evolution.  This also shows (because evolution takes place for efficiency of survival) that most actions and reactions are based off of survival instincts, tying back to the idea of selfism.  The reason I accept the theory of evolution is that there is simply too much reoccurring evidence throughout the entire universe to disregard it.  This is important because it explains how we can expect the universe to advance, and the vast possibilities it is capable of.
2. There is a God, who works through the "holy trinity", and is involved in the universe it created.  Woah!  Evolution and religion in the same philosophy?  Yes.  I accept (in a very generalized description) God to be the why, and evolution to be the how. I think this because while evolution is a pretty concrete theory, that needs to be viewed as valid, the chances that it would occur with no outside influence, are bluntly astronomical.  That being said, if the cells were not to change and mutate by only their own cause, obviously the chances would look much better.  This is important because it justifies my belief in evolution and further advancement.
3. The devotion in humans to a God, is caused by a selfism base.  The reason that humans are drawn to god, is that they are getting something out of the relationship in every way possible way.  The whole idea behind prayer is having an influence on something one would otherwise have none over.  The reason people attend church and give money, is in hopes of future salvation.  I believe this because after attending church regularly, I have noticed that not only withing myself, but also others, the motivation of all actions is future salvation (why religion is synonymous with faith).  This idea has also stuck true to every preacher's sermon I have ever seen.  This is important because it explains why humans actively pursue religion.              
4. Morality is caused by exposure.  I believe that morals are not just established by upbringing, but also how the brain interprets things in general.  If two people are given the same exact situations, they will still get different things out of each one.  People weigh importance on things in sometimes not just different but opposing ways.  I believe this because I've seen people raised in different and similar ways, all with extremely different views on what is "right".  But generally, morals will be derived from something that turned out well for the person.  This is important because it helps describe how societies think and why.
5. If not for society, and groups of people, the world would be in wreckage.  If not for the "teaming up for the general good of humanity", advancement would be very slow.  The interesting part of how my belief fits into this, is that while this is true, the only reason people "team up" is not for humanity, but for their own benefit. The benefit?  Recognition, heroism, heightened standard of living, etc.  The importance of this is that it shows that while people may team up, and find success for all, it is really only for the success of the self.
6. Everyone deserves equal opportunity, to an extent.  I believe that regardless of race, sex, or any sort of differing factor someone is born with,  everyone should have an equal starting point.  this means I think that in a perfect and just world, parents would not get to choose the route their kids take.  Everyone would have the same exposure to religion, education, and the same starting economic status.  That way, the only reason one would have of why they did not amount to as much as their fellow person would be that they misused their opportunity.  But, as America has unsuccessfully tried to simulate this, it only works in a world where selfism is not the base of all action.  I think this is important because it creates a fair life, with less blame being placed.
7. Nothing can be accepted as fully true, as there is always a theoretical case to disprove anything.  This is where my philosophy would probably come under the most speculation.  I think that being that the universe was created by some omniscient being (God), we can't ever say that something is the way it is, or that any predictions for the future are 100% true.  I also think it is kind of cool, living in a universe of uncertainty.  This concept is up to interpretation, as it is a generalized statement that could be taken many different ways.  For instance, if you drop a ball (without air resistance), it will fall down at a constant rate.  Think of all the scenarios and exceptions that would negate that statement.  Any example of a "law" of nature has at least one instance where it is not true.  This is important because it shows just where we are on the scale of things.  That we can never actually have any true knowledge, and we can't even have a complete concept of having that knowledge!

Woah! 

Journal 12

I think that while both Mathew Ward and Stuart Gilbert have made pretty reliable translations, my preference lies with Ward. 

Ward seems to adhere strongly to the general writing style of Albert Camus, especially his syntax.  Short, precise, sentences are used to emphasize and characterize character traits.  Were as, Gilbert has a tendency to mix clauses and some words up.  Additionally, Ward uses "Maman" where Gilbert uses "Mother", and keeps measurements in the metric system.  I like this because the story takes place outside of America, so it is only natural that the dialogue and mannerisms of the society would not be Americanized. 

As for the title, I would translate it to The Foreigner.  I think this would further emphasize the scene on the beach (where a foreigner Arab is shot) and also highlight the fact that Mersault is a foreigner in modern and their present society.  While The Stranger conveys almost that same idea, I think of a foreigner being more detached than a stranger.  Although stranger also works as an idea for this book, because it makes Mersault seem less open to change.