Thesis Statement

Albert Camus creates a character who's motivation is based on physical desires through plot, character, and setting.  The motif of weather and how it affects the character Meursault's desires and mood, Meursault's motivation, being based on physical desires, and the characterization of Meursault because of this motif and motivation show that an enjoyable life can be based solely on physical desires.

Stranger Journal #8

In my opinion, The Stranger was a great book.  I loved it, and it was definetly more interesting and better then Their Eyes Were Watching God.  After reading The Stranger the second time, I enjoyed the book more, and it also helped me to pick up certain aspects that I didnt see before.  The first time I read the book, I read it for background info/for fun, but the second time was more for analysis, and having read it twice allowed me to see motifs easier.  Such as the motif of weather, or the repetition of color.  One thing, in my opinion, that makes a book a great work of literature is how it affects the reader.  What I mean is, does it make the reader think.  The Stranger did this for me, not only did I enjoy the book, but it really made me think not only about Meursault, but about the human experience.

Stranger Journal #7

Albert Camus creates a character with a lack of motivation and caring through plot, character, and setting in order to show all one needs to lead a good life is based on physical necessities.

It was pleasant; the coffee had warmed me up, and the smell of flowers on the night air was coming through the open door. I think I dozed off for a while. (9)

All around me there was still the same glowing countryside flooded with sunlight. The glare from the sky was unbearable. At one point, we went over a section of the road that had just been repaved. The tar had burst open in the sun. […] I felt a little lost between the blue and white of the sky and the monotony of the colors around me – the sticky black of the tar, the dull black of all the clothes, and the shiny black of the hearse. All of it – the sun, the smell of leather and horse dung from the hearse, the smell of varnish and incense, and my fatigue after a night without sleep – was making it hard for me to see or think straight. […] I could feel the blood pounding in my temples. (17)

I had the whole sky in my eyes and it was blue and gold. On the back of my neck I could feel Marie’s heart beating softly. We lay on the float for a long time, half asleep. When the sun got too hot, she dove off and I followed. I caught up with her, put my arm around her waist, and we swam together. She laughed the whole time. (20)

Then the street lamps came on all of a sudden and made the first stars appearing in the night sky grow dim. I felt my eyes getting tired. (24)

I told him yes they were and said I was hungry.  I ate fast and had some coffee.  Then I went home and slept for a while because I’d drunk too much wine, and when I woke up I felt like having a smoke. […]  it got very hot in the office, and that evening, when I left, I was glad to walk back slowly along the docks.  The sky was green; I felt good.  But I went straight home because I wanted to boil myself some potatoes. (26)

I wanted her so bad when I saw her in that pretty red-and-white striped dress and leather sandals.  You could make out the shape of her firm breasts, and her tan made her face look like a flower. (34)

The four o’clock sun wasn’t too hot, but the water was warm, with slow, gently lapping waves.  Marie taught me a game.  […]  This made a delicate froth which disappeared into the air or fell back in a warm spray over my face.  But after a while my mouth was stinging with the salty bitterness.  Then Marie swam over to me and pressed herself against me in the water.  She put her lips on mine.  Her tongue cooled my lips and we tumbled in the waves for a moment. […]  I’d left my window open, and the summer night air flowing over our brown bodies felt good. (34-35)

Once out in the street, because I was so tired and also because we hadn’t opened the blinds, the day, already bright with sun, hit me like a slap in the face.  […]  I felt a little better and I noticed that I was hungry. (47)

The sun was shining almost directly overhead onto the sand, and the glare on the water was unbearable. […] It was hard to breathe in the rocky heat rising from the ground. […]  I wasn’t thinking about anything, because I was half asleep from the sun beating down on my bare head. (52-53)

We walked on the beach for a long time. By now the sun was overpowering. It shattered into little pieces on the sand and water. (55)

The heat was so intense that it was just as bad standing still in the blinding stream falling from the sky. […]  There was the same dazzling red glare.  The sea gasped for air with each shallow, stifled little wave that broke on the sand.  I was walking slowly toward the rocks and I could feel my forehead swelling under the sun.  All that heat was pressing down on me and making it hard for me to go on.  And every time I felt a blast of its hot breath strike my face, I gritted my teeth, clenched my fists in my trouser pockets, and strained every nerve in order to overcome the sun and the thick drunkenness it was spilling over me.  With every blade of light that flashed off the sand, from a bleached shell or a piece of broken glass, my jaws tightened.  I walked for a long time. (57)

[…] a blinding halo of light and sea spray. I was thinking of the cool spring behind the rock. I wanted to hear the murmur of its water again, to escape the sun and the strain […] and to find shade and rest again at last. (57)

[…] my forehead especially was hurting me, all the veins in it throbbing under the skin.  It was this burning, which I couldn’t stand anymore, that made me move forward. […]  the Arab drew his knife and held it up to me in the sun.  The light shot off the steel and it was like a long flashing blade cutting at my forehead.  At the same instant the sweat in my eyebrows dripped down over my eyelids all at once and covered them with a warm, thick film. […]  all I could feel were the cymbals of sunlight crashing on my forehead and, indistinctly, the dazzling spear flying up from the knife in front of me.  The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes. […]  I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a beach where I’d been happy.  Then I fired four more times at the motionless body where the bullets lodged without leaving a trace.  And it was like knocking four quick time on the door of unhappiness. (58-59)

I explained to him, however, that my nature was such that my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings. (65)

It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and this time his office was filled with sunlight barely softened by a flimsy curtain. It was very hot. (66)

Stranger Journal #6

Why does Albert Camus create a character who's emotions are dependent on the environment?

What is Camus trying to say about human experience by creating a character that seems to lack motivation?

Is Camus trying to say something by Meursault's repititous life? if so, what?

Why does Camus create a character that does not seem to care or react to change in life, whether it be good or bad?

Why does Camus use a character that adapts quickly to a new life?

On Tate's Blog:

Camus only states "the Arabs" because none of the other characters no any of "the Arabs" personally. Yes Raymond had a relationship with one of the Arabs' sisters, but Camus never mentions her name. Camus refers to the group as "the Arabs" one because they are Arabian, and two because it would not make sense if Camus described each one by name because the book is narrated through Meursault and he never meets or learns the name of the Arabs.

Megan's Blog:

#1  Just a heads up, I dont recall Raymond having a dog, Salamano has a dog.  Salamano has this dog because his wife has passed away, and he got the dog in order to help him get over the loss of his wife.  Camus uses this relationship between Salamano and his dog to give insight into human nature.  Many people have animals, friends, family that they do not get along with.  Often people treat their animals, friends, or family rudely or badly, and even though they do this they still love and care about them.  Camus is trying to show that despite how the dog angers Salamano, Salamano still cares about the dog, he just becomes annoyed by it and reacts sometimes by beating and or cursing at the dog.

Isabel Harger's Blog:

5. Throughout The Stranger, Camus characterizes Meursault as a person who goes with the flow. Meursault does not care really what happens to him. Meursault did not care that his mother died, he was indifferent about becoming friends with Raymond and marrying Marie. Yes Meursault did not object to these relationships, but also Meursault was not enthusiastic about these relationships. Meursault is one who is indifferent about life, he does not appreciate the legal system, however he accepts it because that is how he acts.

Andy's Blog:

1.  Camus begins the story with Meursault in full existentialism mode because this helps to portray the existentialist beliefs.  Were Camus to start Meursault with a more caring, motivated outlook on life, it could confuse the reader, and block the reader from seeing the existentialism that Meursault is characterized.

Isabella Lewis' Blog:

3.  Camus says that life has "come to a stand still" when Meursault was first in jail because Meursault's repitious life was flipped upside down and Meursault's routine is changed.  Meursault has a repitious life, going to the movies, making love to Marie, swimming, observing the town, and when Meursault is first in jail he is not used to things.  Meursault is a person who lacks motivation and caring, and when he is first in jail, he must take time, as all people need, to adjust to his new environment.  Camus uses Meursault's quick adjustment to his new environment and routine to show that people need to be able to adjust quickly in life, this allows for a less painful, less dramatic effect to the person.

Stranger Journal #5

I think that Camus created two parts to The Stranger because there is a major change in Meursault's routine and his daily life.  Although there is a major change in Meursault's life he quickly adapts and becomes used to his new surroundings and daily routine.  In part I, Meursault smokes many ciggarettes, "I stayed in bed until noon, smoking cigarettes" (Camus/Gilbert 25), "After smoking a couple of cigarettes" (27).  When Meursault is arrested in part II, all that was on him was taken away from him, including his cigarettes which he is clearly addicted to, "The lack of cigarettes, too, was a trial. [...]  But, by the time I understood, I'd lost the craving, so it had ceased to be a punishment" (97).  Other things have changed in Meursault's life, such as "[his] habit of thinking like a free man.  For instance, I would suddely be seized with a desire to go down to the beach for a swim. [...]  Afterward, I had prisoner's thoughts. [...]  I had come to watch for my lawyer's odd neckties, or, in another world, to wait patiently till Sunday for a spell of love-making with Marie." (95).  Meursault's "typical Sunday afternoon" (27) as he called it is now different.  It has changed from making love with Marie, watching the bustling town, the sea, smoking cigarettes, going to the sea and swimming to thinking, sleeping, and other activities.  Yet Meursault still has the "one life was as good as aonther, and my present one suited me" (52) way of thinking.  I think that Camus has created a part one and a part two to see how Meursault reacts to this change in his life. 

Stranger Journal #4

Why is Marie wearing a white dress? Is it foreshadowing that Meursault one day may want to marry her?

Why is Meursault's emotions dependent on the environment?

Is Camus racist?

Why does Meursault shoot the Arab 4-5times?

Why does he stay around afterwards?

What is the throbbing in his head caused by?

Stranger Journal #3

Faithism
My philospohy is called Faithism because my beliefs have a lot to do with Christianity.  I believe that there is a purpose to life and a reason for all of us to be here on the Earth.
1.  There is a God who is a personal one, he cares about each one of us individually and reveals purpose for human beings.
2.  Having a positive/out-going outlook on life will help you to make better choices, it will help you to make friends, and overall, make your life better.
3.  There is a deep purpose and meaning to life.
4.  There are consequences to every decision(good and/or bad consequences).
5.  One of the most important things in life, is family.
6.  The harder you try/work for something, the more likely you will be to achieve it/obtain it(like a goal).
7.  In my opinion, what doesn't kill us, gives us learning experiences, where our lives and the lives of others around us can change.
My philosophy is very similar to theism.  I have learned through many experiences in my life, even though I am only 16, that all of these things are true.  I believe that it is good to focus on the positive things (the glass is half full, not half empty), this allows us to see what we have and be greatful for it.  I believe that the choices we make can have good and or bad consequences which may lead us to more bad or good decisions.  But we have the ability to change what will happen in the future(there are some exceptions).  I am talking about how we act,  what we say, what we think, etc.  Family is one of the most important things in life because of the way they make us feel.  Family does not neccesarily mean "blood related" in my opinion.  An example of this is could be a closely bonded/united sports team, or a bunch of friends that may not have anything else, except for each other.  Generally speaking, if you work hard, you will eventually achieve what you desire.  The harder you work, the more likely you are to achieve this goal.  I have heard many times, "You miss 100% of the shots you dont take" and this is very true.  Think about it, if you try for something and fail/dont achieve it, at least you can honestly say that you tried.  I also believe that what doesn't kill us, allows us to learn.  When I broke my leg freshmen year, I learned that I needed to be more thankful for what I have been blessed with.  For my family, the country I live in(where I can actually get good medical treatment) and many other things.  Many of the things that I believe are because of the way my parents have raised me, and because of the church that I belong to.

Stranger Journal #2

Part 1:  In my opinion Matthew Ward has the most literary value because he keeps some of the literal translations.  The opening page contains the word "Maman" where as in Stuart Gilbert's translated version of The Stranger he translates the french word "maman" to "mother".  Also Matthew Ward uses European measurements for distance, using "eighty kilometers" compared to Gilbert's "fifty miles".  These two instances show and help orient the reader.  If I did not know before that the book was translated from french, as many people wouldn't. then I would have honestly assumed it was somewhere such as the United States beacause we use miles instead of kilometers.  It also helps us to realize and see the culture that the book comes from.  Another reason Ward's translation is valuable because he uses more sharp and direct sentences which create a better tone because it helps to characterize Meursault even more.

Part 2:  I would assign the English translation the name of "The Outsider".  I believe this would be a better fitting title because not only is Meursault indifferent about things that take place, but he seems to be on the outside, looking in and observing what is going on.  He does not seem to know a lot about what happens, or why people say things, or why he even says certain things, but he does observe what happens around him and what people do and say.  "My bedroom overlooks the main street of our district. [...]  A typical Sunday afternoon. . . .  I turned my chair round and seated myself like the tobacconist, as it was more comfortable that way.  After smoking a couple of cigarettes I went back to the room, got a tablet of chocolate, and returned to the window to eat it.  Soon after, the sky clouded over, and I thought a summer storm was coming" (Camus/Gilbert 26-27).  I only quoted a small portion of pages 26-27 but on these two pages, Meursault sits at his balcony watching the bustling streets until they clear out, but he still watches them, observing the stores, "a typical sunday afternoon" he calls it.  This is why I would assign the English translation the name of "The Outsider", because Meursault seems to be on the outside, looking in and observing what is happening.