Thesis!

In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses parallelism in both parts of the novel to show Meursault's clear emotional disconnect towards death. This illuminates the fact that death can cause one to become indifferent to the people and thing around him.

Journal #8

Personally, I hated this book. I didn't feel a connection to the character in any way and that made it really painful to read. The short and choppy sentences made it really awkward to read aswell. To me, it seems like a pointless book that ultimatly teaches you nothing. I literally dreaded picking it up and starting in on a new chapter. This book was also really hard to analyze. It left so many loose ends that you had to guess what Camus was actually trying to say. I'm a little confused as to why this book is so important to be teaching in schools. Yes he may be a great author but this book is lame. And on top of all of this, the plot is depressing. So on a scale from TERRIBLE-BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ I give it a pretty darn bad.

Journal #7

Topic: Parallelism between Mersault's reaction to death in the first and second part. Does death make him emotionally disconnected?

"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe is was yesterday." (3)

"Everybody felt sorry for me and Celeste said, 'You only have one mother.' When I left, they walked me to the door because I was a little distracted [...] He lost his uncle a few months back." (4)

"The director spoke to me again. But I wasn't really listening anymore. Then he said, 'I suppose you'd like to see your mother.' I got up without saying anything and he led the was to the door." (5)

"It surprised me, because I didn't know who she was. I wished I didn't have to listen to her anymore." (10)

"The undertaker's men arrived a few minutes ago. I'm going to ask them to seal the casket. Before I do, would you like to see your mother one last time? I said no." (13)

"I don't know why we waited so long before getting under way. I was hot in my dark clothes." (15)

Journal #6

Does Camus create Mersault to be "emotionless" because of his mother's death, or does he imply that Meursault has always been like this?

Does Camus description of a humans "innate" characteristics (sleeping, sex, eating etc.) show the need for physical reassurance in everyday life?

How old does Camus want Meursault to be portrayed?

Does routine play an important role in Meursault's life? If yes, how?

Why does Camus use such short and choppy sentences in his writing? How does this connect to a theme?

ANSWERS!
Anthony Nguyen: #1
I also agree with Sean. Sun/light has been turned into things he wishes not to see. I believe that in order for anything to be real, Meursault has to physically see them. But in these cases, the sun/light/heat may be present because he knows that they are real, but he refuses to own up to the truth of it? If that makes sense.

Maddie Black: #1
I have been wondering the same thing. I think that maybe he gets upset when people show emotion because at that point in his life he is so disconnected from it all together. Although it doesn't appear that way, his mother's death took a tole on him and he has distanced himself from anything that might cause him pain.

Jarrad Schulte: #5
The reason Camus uses simple colors is to keep the complexity of the description down. When Meursault describes things (which is semi rare!), Camus wants to make sure that we as the readers really understand what he means.

Ivan K: #3
Camus shows Meursault with more emotion in the court because M. is battling with the fact that his life is meaningless. This is what makes me believe that M. was not always emotionally disconnected but that these attitudes were brought on by the death of his mother.

Tanner Bean: #1
Camus makes Meursault dependant on the physical to act as a foil. This shows how the other characters care about more important emotional things.

Journal #5

I think the reason that Camus broke his novel into two parts was to show the difference between Meursault's life before and after the murder. But I also think he did it to show parallels between the two beginnings. In the the beginning of part one Meursault is indifferent to his mothers death and seems to act like he doesn't care. In the beginning of part two, you also see Meursault attitude as not caring about who he is talking to and what he just did. But the difference between the two parts endings is that at the end of the second part he starts to realize that life is meaningless and his death is meaningless.

Journal #3

My philosophy is simple; I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that He is helps me survive each day. I don't have seven to ten guidelines or principals because I have a whole book. I am a strong Christian and I try to live my faith out everyday. I've decided I'm going to explain my faith using the Lord's words.

1. Belief in a God who is personal and worthy of worship.
"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people in his pasture, the flock under his care." Psalm 95:6-7
The Lord is nothing but personal! He created us in his own image so that we might come to know Him! God wants to be a part of our everyday life. He loves each and everyone of us unconditionally and deserves our praise.

2. A personal relationship with the Lord God.
"If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
John 14:15-17

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 15:10

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:39
The verses about having a personal relationship with the Lord are endless. He desires to have a personal relationship with all of his creation. He knows us completely; he knows our thoughts, desires, plans and even every hair on our heads. He wants us to know and seek after him. By denying our self, and picking up his cross we can truly follow him. A personal relationship means that he is with us and through us and he is made a part of our everyday life. Prayer is a large part too. We pray to seek him, be comforted and to praise him. The Lord is the best friend anyone can have and a constant pillar of hope and love. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

3. Reveals his purpose and plan through the word.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

"Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:12
The Lord God has a plan for all of us. When you follow the Lord not only do you have hope in Jesus but you have hope of a lifetime with your Creator. It is written that he will never give you more than you can handle and that the Lord's will is perfect. I don't really know how people get through trials and hard times without clinging to the love of the Lord.

At this point, I am a crying mess. I think about my life and how the Lord has impacted me and changed my life. The Lord has come into my life and radically changed everything I've ever known. He's mended relationships in my family, shredded hearts and most importantly taught me to love as He loves. He has turned my life upside down and I will forever be grateful to him. It saddens me that the culture we live in has a hard heart toward God. People think that life is meaningless. But a life serving the Lord is nothing but meaningless. Life is a beautiful gift given to us by Christ. And to live for the Kingdom everyday is my goal. I've been persecuted for my faith. But I know that my obedience will be worth it. We live in a culture that doesn't love. People are mocked for being the slightest bit different. The Lord commands us to love our neighbor as our self! His greatest command is love. Love the people on this earth like the Lord loves us. We as believers are to be the light for him on the earth and glorify him in all we do. I am reminded everyday of the beauty of Christ's creation and of His merciful love. We ALL have sinned and all short of the glory of God, but he chose to send his Son to die for us anyway so we can be one with God! What an amazing promise. In the Lord, I will forever be full of everlasting joy.

Journal #2

According to the work we did in class, I like Ward's translation better. I feel like Ward keeps the reader closer to what Meursault actually is thinking and feeling. I also like how the words are simpler and to the point in Ward's translation. I thought that Gilbert's translation was way to wordy and it took away from the bluntness of Meursault. Also Gilbert's translation had a ton of commas and semi-colons which gave the book a sort of uneasy and anxious tone. I know it made me anxious while reading it. The diction used in Ward's translation was also preferable because he used everyday words that added to Meursault's indifferent attitude. I doubt Meursault was thinking words like dandling... I think its more realistic this way. Also Ward kept French elements like Maman in the text, which makes us believe that it is closer to the real book.

I think that The Foreigner would be a good title for this book. Is Meursault really from France? He doesn't seem to pick up on the social ques of the culture. He lacks major social skills in that area so that makes me think that he is from somewhere else. The Stranger title confuses me because what is Meursault a stranger from. Himself? Emotions? The people around him? This might be the case because Meursault is so unconnected to everything. Because they kept some of the french elements to the book, I think it would have been cool if they would have left the title as L'Estranger as let us believe what we want about it.

Journal #1

The method for tabbing I used last time worked really well, but I've also decided to add another tab for characterzation of Mersault. Also since the setting is not described as clearly, I have also decided to point out when the setting or the things around him is more described.

Orange; Motifs and Symbols
A motif that I see reacuring in these first two chapters is Mersault obsession with time and numbers, I will continue to look into that.
(I have also decided that during TEWWG I tabbed WAY to many reoccuring words even when they had nothing to do with the original reason I tabbed them. I will NOT be doing that this time)

Blue; Characterization of Mersault and how he develops.

Green; Sencence Structure

Pink; Description of Setting

Of course possible themes and more motifs and symbols will continue to show up while reading the novel. This is just a quick look at my first impression on the first chapters.