Sunday, October 9, 2011
Stranger Journal 5
I part two, we begin to see slight changes that really affect how we read the tone of the book. The paragraphs are all even in tone and sentence length. They are no longer short and choppy in one, and long and detailed in the next. Meusault's character also goes through a few changes. A once avid smoker turns down a cigarette when offered, "one of them offered me a cigarette, which I turned down," (82). He has also been changed from a person that goes unnoticed, to the center of attention and this is shocking for him. Also a man dedicated to detail begins to get annoyed at the judge because he "went into minute detail in his narrative," (87). He has gone from a man with very little emotion and not caring too much about what people thought of him to having "this stupid urge to cry, because I could feel how much all these people hated me," (90). This is also shown when he states that "it was the first time in my life I ever wanted to kiss a man," (93). He also for the first time seems to want his opinnion to be know, "There were times when I felt like breaking in on all of them and saying, 'Wait a minute! Who's the accused one here? Being the accused counts for something. And I have something to say!' But on second thought, I didn't have anything to say," He just wants to be heard, (98).
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Stranger Journal 4
My group chose Maman to analyze. We first meet Meursault when he finds out about his mother's death and is deciding when to go to the funeral.
On the very first page he says, "For now, it's almost as if Maman weren't dead. After the funeral, though, the case will be closed, and everything will have a more official feel to it," (3). He is referring to her death in a very matter of fact, open and shut matter. The reference to a "case" and "official" I found interesting because when someone is on trial, unless you are directly involved, it is very impersonal. The jury is not allowed to have contact directly with the victim, and anyone working on the case can not have any emotional connection what so ever with it.
Through out the first chapter, we follow Meursault through his experience at the vigil and funeral. The entire time he seems very distant and disconnected. Everything is referred to in a matter of fact manner. He can describe the most ridiculous things in such great detail, such as how the screws on the casket looked against the wood, or how Mr. Perez's face looked when he cried, and yet he was unable to articulate why he didn't want to see his mother, "I don't know," (6).
Maman brings out Meursault's true self. He does seem to love her, but he himself does not seem to recognize it, "And from the peculiar little noise coming through the partition, I realized he was crying. For some reason I thought of Maman," (39). This passage shows her true heart, while he never cried once during the vigil or funeral, the thought of someone else crying over something they lost evokes feelings of loss in himself. This passage shows a bit of Frued's theory of the unconscious the Camus uses throughout the book.
On the very first page he says, "For now, it's almost as if Maman weren't dead. After the funeral, though, the case will be closed, and everything will have a more official feel to it," (3). He is referring to her death in a very matter of fact, open and shut matter. The reference to a "case" and "official" I found interesting because when someone is on trial, unless you are directly involved, it is very impersonal. The jury is not allowed to have contact directly with the victim, and anyone working on the case can not have any emotional connection what so ever with it.
Through out the first chapter, we follow Meursault through his experience at the vigil and funeral. The entire time he seems very distant and disconnected. Everything is referred to in a matter of fact manner. He can describe the most ridiculous things in such great detail, such as how the screws on the casket looked against the wood, or how Mr. Perez's face looked when he cried, and yet he was unable to articulate why he didn't want to see his mother, "I don't know," (6).
Maman brings out Meursault's true self. He does seem to love her, but he himself does not seem to recognize it, "And from the peculiar little noise coming through the partition, I realized he was crying. For some reason I thought of Maman," (39). This passage shows her true heart, while he never cried once during the vigil or funeral, the thought of someone else crying over something they lost evokes feelings of loss in himself. This passage shows a bit of Frued's theory of the unconscious the Camus uses throughout the book.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Stranger Journal 3
The title for The stranger, i believe, has different meanings.
Firstly i believe that the title could relate to Meursault and his relationship with society. He seems very disconnected from the normal social behaviors which would set him apart for the rest of his community and turning him into a stranger to them
I also see that the title could potentially relate to the Arab that Meursault kills. That man was a stranger to him, and because he is dead, he will always be.
Firstly i believe that the title could relate to Meursault and his relationship with society. He seems very disconnected from the normal social behaviors which would set him apart for the rest of his community and turning him into a stranger to them
I also see that the title could potentially relate to the Arab that Meursault kills. That man was a stranger to him, and because he is dead, he will always be.
Stranger Journal 2
Salamano: He is Meursault's neighbor and he is important because he helps make Meursault look better. He beats his dog mercilessly and no one ever says anything. Salamano really does love his dog, but it's tough love, "Then he beats the dog and swears at it," (26). I wonder how he can beat his dog and still care for it at the same time?
The Dog: The dog plays an important role in Salamano's life. Though it gets beaten constantly, it remains faithful. It has been with him so long that "he's sort of taken on his master's stooped look, muzzle down, neck straining," (27). This shows how you can become who you are around, which alludes to later on in the book when Meursault begins to take on Raymond's personality.
Raymond: Raymond is another one of Meursaults's neighbors and he leads an interesting life style. All of the people in the apartment complex believe that he lives off women, implying that he is a pimp. Yet he insists that he is ware house guard. this very apparent lie does not put him right in the minds of most people, but Meursault doesn't seem to care about his business, he says that he does not have any reason not to like him, and so they become friends.
The Dog: The dog plays an important role in Salamano's life. Though it gets beaten constantly, it remains faithful. It has been with him so long that "he's sort of taken on his master's stooped look, muzzle down, neck straining," (27). This shows how you can become who you are around, which alludes to later on in the book when Meursault begins to take on Raymond's personality.
Raymond: Raymond is another one of Meursaults's neighbors and he leads an interesting life style. All of the people in the apartment complex believe that he lives off women, implying that he is a pimp. Yet he insists that he is ware house guard. this very apparent lie does not put him right in the minds of most people, but Meursault doesn't seem to care about his business, he says that he does not have any reason not to like him, and so they become friends.
Stranger Journal 1
Meursault has a very unique personality. He does not like to speak very often, and when he does, it is usually one word answers, or very short and matter of fact, "I said 'yes,' just so i wouldn't have to say anything else," (4). His personality seems to keep him from having very many relationships out side of the one with Marie.
"I went in. It was a very bright, whitewashed room with a skylight for a roof. The furniture consisted of some chairs and some cross-shaped sawhorses. Two of them, in the middle of the room were supporting a closed casket. All you could see were some shiny screws, not screwed down all the way, standing out against the walnut-stained planks, " (6). This passage is an important insight into Meursault. It shows that he is observers, not not only on the big picture. He tends to focus into the little things, like screws, rather than focusing more effort into the entire room.
I think that it is odd that he observes so much about human nature, yet he acts out in ways that are not what society would suspect.
He also has a very habitual lifestyle. There is order which he does things and everything he does is simple and matter of fact, "I drank the coffee. Then I felt like having a smoke," (8). "I caught the two o'clock bus. It was very hot. I ate at the restaurant, at Celeste's, as usual," (3)
"Yes" and "No"
Whenever Meursault is asked a question, usually he answers in the simplest way possible. When asked a yes or no question, the easiest answer does not always include an explanation, "I answered, "No." (6). "I said, "yes," (4). "I like milk in my coffee, so I said yes," (8).
"I went in. It was a very bright, whitewashed room with a skylight for a roof. The furniture consisted of some chairs and some cross-shaped sawhorses. Two of them, in the middle of the room were supporting a closed casket. All you could see were some shiny screws, not screwed down all the way, standing out against the walnut-stained planks, " (6). This passage is an important insight into Meursault. It shows that he is observers, not not only on the big picture. He tends to focus into the little things, like screws, rather than focusing more effort into the entire room.
I think that it is odd that he observes so much about human nature, yet he acts out in ways that are not what society would suspect.
He also has a very habitual lifestyle. There is order which he does things and everything he does is simple and matter of fact, "I drank the coffee. Then I felt like having a smoke," (8). "I caught the two o'clock bus. It was very hot. I ate at the restaurant, at Celeste's, as usual," (3)
"Yes" and "No"
Whenever Meursault is asked a question, usually he answers in the simplest way possible. When asked a yes or no question, the easiest answer does not always include an explanation, "I answered, "No." (6). "I said, "yes," (4). "I like milk in my coffee, so I said yes," (8).
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Cultural Journal #1
In the first chapter, the topic of religion is very prominent because of Meursault's mother's death. It is said that she had a "desire for a religious burial", (6). The Catholic culture is very strong in France and when a death occurs, a vigil is held. This is suppose to be a time to pray and reflect on the person you have lost. Meursault's mind wanders and he ends up falling asleep, this shows that he is possibly a non-practicing Catholic.
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