Journal #16

 Questions

1.   Why does Camus suddenly stop using a large amount of imagery in the second part of the novel? For example, he stops describing colors, and nature, etc. Is there something larger here?
2. Is there a historical aspect to the novel in the French/Algerian conflict of the '50s? If so, is it only in the conflict scenes between the French men and the Arabs, or is it throughout the novel?
3. Why does Camus end the novel with the sentence about the crowd greeting Meursault with cries of hate? The last few pages are insightful towards Camus' absurdist beliefs, but how does this tie in?
4. Throughout the novel there is a significant amount of images of the earthly elements and nature. Does this have any major bearing on some theme of the novel? Could it be related somewhat to the existentialist beliefs?
5. Is Camus trying to comment on love, or the internal conflict of love, at any point in the novel? We know about Meursault's possible love of his mother, or even of Marie, but is that true love?
6. What does Salamanu and his dog symbolize, and how does it tie into some larger aspect of the novel?

Responses to other questions
Montana #5
Camus uses the conflict between the Frenchmen and the Arabs to comment on the the Algerian fight for independence in the 1950s. He is trying to say that the French should be held responsible for the millions of people they killed.
Tate 2)
Camus uses the symbolism of smoking and drinking to represent a break from the responsibilities of society. In contrast, time is used to snap Meursault into the real world. On page 52, Marie suddenly talks about time while he is drinking, and he then must go for a walk, just to please the other men.
Tanner
Why does Albert Camus create a character who's emotions are dependent on the environment?
Camus uses the emotions of Meursault, which are based on the condition of the environment, to highlight how irrelevant and changeable we really are. There is no reason to them, they simply change according to how we feel.
Isobel
4) How does the culture impact the book?
Camus uses the setting of the novel, Algiers, to comment on the Algerian struggle for independence against the French. When Raymond is simply let go after beating his girlfriend, Camus is criticizing the French government for their harsh and uncaring treatment of the Algerians.
Matt
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?
Camus 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.