2. Why does Albert Camus use such short and choppy sentences? What effect does this have on the story?
3. In what ways does Albert Camus relate the life of Mersault to that of Sisyphus in his essay? Does this have significance for a theme?
4. Why does Albert Camus use words that suggest a routine when describing the events in the book?
5. Why does Albert Camus keep Mersault from showing emotion? Is it because he doesn't care, or can he not deal with the stress of emotional situations?
Tanner B.
4. Camus creates a character that does not react to changes in life in order to reflect his world view of absurdism, specifically that looking for answers to life will leave one unhappy.
Megan D.
2. Camus creates a character that is irritated when others show emotion in order to show his own inability to show emotion himself
Isabel H.
5. Camus makes Mersault accept the legal system because it reflects his own belief about life; the idea that searching for answers in a complex world will leave one unhappy, rather than just accepting life for what it is and not stress about understanding it, which will provide happiness.
Tate B.
1. Camus only describes weekends because he believes that during the week, everything is the same, the routine of one weekday is identical to another, while during weekends, one is not bound to a strict routine.
Shannon G.
2. Camus uses the strong relationship between Salamano and his dog to show Mersault's inability to have a relationship that requires him to show emotion.
#2 Why does Albert Camus use such short and choppy sentences? What effect does this have on the story?
ReplyDeleteAlbert Camus uses short and choppy sentences to represent how humans think things through, thus developing a routine in their daily lives.
Camus's book The Stranger has a lack of emotion and focuses instead on physical sensations and logical thought to characterize Meursault in order to demonstrate the philosophy of existentialism.
ReplyDelete#2: Camus uses short, choppy sentences to show that Meursault is not capable of thinking or comprehending anything more, like emotion. This is why he is not capable of expressing his emotion.
ReplyDeleteTo answer question one, the sun is related to Mersault's mood almost exactly. When Mersault is happy and with Marie, Camus descirbes the sun as positive and light. However, when Mersault is faced with conflict, for example before he shoots the Arab, he describes the sun pounding down on his head giving a more exagerated emphasis to his feeling of pain.
ReplyDelete4. Why does Albert Camus use words that suggest a routine when describing the events in the book?
ReplyDeleteCamus uses words that suggest a routine to stress the reasons for why Meursault is indifferent about his life. The monotony of his life may be the reason that he believes there is no reason for existing.
1) I think the sun transcends something so fickle as mood and instead focuses on Meursault's perception of what is being valued.
ReplyDelete5) I don't think that the lack of emotion is an attempt to characterize Meursault personally, just to highlight the focus on physical value in contrast to emotional value.
3. In what ways does Albert Camus relate the life of Mersault to that of Sisyphus in his essay? Does this have significance for a theme?
ReplyDeleteCamus uses the structure of the novel to relate Meursault's life to that of Sisyphus. In the first part of the book, Meursault is living amongst ordinary people and enjoying the comforts of nature and freedom. However, once he conflicts with death and kills a man, he is punished and sent to jail, possibly a symbol of the underworld or the land of the dead. This is an example of Camus' absurdist beliefs.
5. The lack of outward emotion serves to characterize Meresault as someone who emotional events (or at least the ones he experiences) hold no greater meaning and should not be dwelt on. He has gotten to the point where he acknowledges the events but understands they are ultimately of no importance. His thoughts on his mother's death and on marriage reflect this, they don't ultimately mean anything and so warrant little attention.
ReplyDelete4. I believe Camus uses the everday 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.
ReplyDeleteCamus uses short, choppy sentences to show how Mersault is not able to comprehend with his emotions.
ReplyDelete