Story Power

In class, we read Albert Camus’s take on the classic story, “Myth of Sisyphus.” In this story, Sisyphus is forced to push a heavy boulder up a hill until it reaches the top. The challenge is that it can never reach the top, and every time that Sisyphus almost makes it, the boulder rolls back down the hill. Many would argue that this is a life of endless suffering and a terrible punishment that Sisyphus cannot escape. However, Camus argues that Sisyphus is happy because he accepts his fate. Sisyphus realizes he can’t change his fate, so he must try to find joy. This leads him to find happiness in the present moment which means Sisyphus is always happy. Because he has learned to embrace the situation he is in.

Camus uses this story to argue his broader theme about existentialism. He argues that humans focus too much on their past choices and how they affect their current fate. People are so focused on the future that they find no happiness in the present moment. Camus wants to get the idea across that if we let the idea that we control our fate go, then we will start to become happier because we will realize that things happen and we should just let them happen.

Some people might agree with Camus and others might think he is ridiculous. I think that I agree with some of the things he says. I could worry less about the future and dwell less on the past. I think that if I started doing this I would become happier overall. But I also think it is very hard to accept your fate, especially when you feel like you can change it with your actions. This article really got me thinking about human nature and why people worry so much about things out of their control and forget to find joy in the things that they can control.

Mutual Recognition in Trust and The Stranger

By Alana G

In Albert Camus, Jessica Benjamin, Mutual Recognition, Stranger, Trust (film) - Hal Hartley

Mutual recognition, the idea that individuality is reliant upon other’s recognition of you and your recognition of them, is present in both Trust by Hal Hartley and The Stranger by Albert Camus. However, compared to Trust, there is a lack of mutual recognition in the relationships portrayed in The Stranger.

In The Stranger, Meursault and Marie are in a relationship. However, it is clear that they see this relationship very differently. When Marie asks him if he wants to marry her, he doesn’t care. Additionally, he rarely says anything about her other than short comments about her looking pretty. Though we can assume Marie recognizes him as an individual based on her evident care for him throughout the book and during his trial, it seems that Meursault is lacking this recognition. The reader knows very little about Marie because of his lack of attention on her and his comments about her looks lead the reader to believe that he sees her as an object.

There is clear mutual recognition in Trust, a stark difference from The Stranger. In Trust, both Maria and Matthew care deeply about each other. They want one another to escape their toxic families so that they can live better lives. Matthew is willing to work a job he hates to give Maria a stable life and Maria is willing to risk her life to help save him. If they didn’t think of each other as individuals, neither of them would have done the things they did to support the other. Their relationship was one of mutual recognition, unlike Meursault and Marie’s.

Meursault and Matthew Slaughter: Mirror Images?

By Isaac H.

Although Meursault from Albert Camus’, “The Stranger,” shares a similar grim and uncaring facade as Matthew Slaughter from the 1990 film “Trust,” how similar are they?

Throughout the film “Trust,” Matthew Slaughter establishes himself as a dangerous, explosive man who isn’t afraid to make bold decisions. Similarly, Meursault in “The Stranger,” is extremely spontaneous and and at times violent. From a surface-level examination, we can conclude these characters are similar in personality. However, diving deeper gives us clear evidence that these characters are not mirror images, but rather extraordinarily different.

Matthew Slaughter is a caring man who wants to marry his lover and live a happy life together. The same cannot be said with Meursault, who often forgets about his girlfriend, claim he doesn’t love her, and express indifference when asked about marriage. Furthermore, Matthew’s dark side was adopted from his father’s mistreatment of him as a child, while Meursault acts mysterious and uncaring because of a philosophical revelation which happened shortly after college. Another difference is why each character is dangerous. Matthew is dangerous when he gets angry and emotionally provoked. Meursault is dangerous simply because he can be. There is no real reason or justification behind Meursault’s actions, he simply does what he wants. Clearly, Meursault and Matthew posses different morals and ideals on life and the human condition, and are different in countless ways.

Trust – No Need for Acting

By Finley E

In Film, Trust (film) - Hal Hartley

In “Trust,” the characters speak in a very odd demeanor which makes their dialogue sound almost robotic. Their conversations are often direct and witty, mixing everyday language with philosophical ideas. They tend to use short, punchy sentences that make their conversations feel intense and honest, though it’s balanced with the lack of noticeable emotion. This stylized dialogue often consisted of themes like love, responsibility, and trust reflecting the characters’ internal struggles, and making their interactions more intense and impactful. Their interactions frequently reveal their personalities and emotions, meaning the actors don’t necessarily have to act out the emotions the characters might feel.

“Trust” is also entirely raw, and unfiltered. The way the characters phrase their thoughts is often blunt, though poetic, and this diction adds depth to the film. The unusual speech patterns seem to be a deliberate choice of acting to mirror real-life communication challenges, contributing to the film’s overall tone and emotional depth. From a glance, this strange talking demeanor might seem unplanned, or like bad acting, though each word was carefully articulated to give an overall sense of honesty. Furthermore, this overarching honesty is the sole reason our two main protagonists, Maria and Matthew, trust each other at the end of everything.

Trust & The Stranger, More Alike Than Expected

By Asher F

In Albert Camus, Stranger, Trust (film) - Hal Hartley

The film Trust (1990) centers around Matthew and Marie, two people who are mistreated by those they know because they do not conform to societal norms. This film and Albert Camus’s The Stranger have strong parallels between them in terms of an overarching absurdist message.

The first similarity between Trust and The Stranger is the main characters’ relationship with work. Meursault is offered a promotion but refuses due to the fact that he would have to move to Paris, which he thinks is a physically unappealing place. Matthew believes that television is evil and would rather use his repairman skills to fix radios and other older forms of technology. He attempts to negotiate a salary of 2/3 of what he would be given, just because he does not want to work fixing televisions. Marie works at a metal pressing factory since she dropped out of school because of her pregnancy. She is unhappy doing it and eventually decides to quit and go back to school. All three characters attempt to live their life in a way that would bring them the most joy and reject monetary incentives to do so.

Another similarity is the dynamics of the characters with their families. Meursault feels little pain in the death of his mother, family to him is a construct and he does not owe her anything. Matthew’s father and Marie’s mother are both abusive people, Matthew’s father beats him and Marie’s mother severely manipulates her. They immediately recognize that the other person’s parent is not good for the other person but accept when their own parent acts in a harmful way towards them since they feel that they are stuck with them. Both Marie and Matthew would be happier if they followed the absurdist philosophy and left together, discarding the system of family as Matthew suggested in his pseudo “marriage proposal”.

The last connection I spotted was the fact that all three characters intentionally lashed out at the world which resulted in their own detriment. Meursault shoots the Arab resulting in his execution, Marie slaps her father resulting in his death, and Matthew pulls the pin to the hand grenade at his old job resulting in his arrest. All three of these characters’ actions were products of them not agreeing with the flawed societies they live in, and rejecting those systems in the most extreme ways possible. Despite the glaring negatives that result from these actions there are positives as well. Marie and Matthew would never have met if her father hadn’t died, Meursault would never have had his revelation if he had not been imprisoned, and Matthew wouldn’t have known that Marie truly loved him if he hadn’t pulled the pin.

Perhaps the best way to live life is to consider absurdism to an extent, reaping the rewards that benefit one’s self but avoiding going too far and falling off the cliff.

Trust Review

By Nate G

The film Trust explores various themes, such as love, trust, and personal responsibility in a world that is full of emotion. In the movie, Maria a pregnant teenager, and Matthew, a pyscotic electronic repairman, end up forming an unlikely connection with one another. Both characters have a lot in common and struggle with their families expectations. However, they find the good in each other’s flaws. The film challenges society’s idea of a romantic relationship by focusing on emotional growth rather than romance and love.

Furthermore, a main point in the movie is how over time both characters not only learn how to trust each other but themselves. Through both of them working hard to regain control of their lives and find stability in life they are able to push one another in a positive way. Within the film, it also critiques society’s emphasis on success, these pressures end up leaving damage on personal connections. Matthew’s dad and Maria’s mom both put immense pressure on their kids to change, it ends up taking a toll on them and does more bad than good. It’s only until Matthew and Maria meet one another, when they start bettering one another because of their unexpected deep connection. Overall, Trust shows us how success cannot always be built upon pressure and that it can do more good than bad. It demonstrates that genuine relationships that are built on strong emotional connections can have more of an impact on success rather than pressure.

Meursault & Marie

By Nolan S

After watching Trust by Hal Hartley, and reading the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, it’s easy to look for similarities and compare Mattew and Meursault. While they are both males, most likely the same age, have strange relationships with their families, and end up in prison in each of their stories, Maire’s character is much more similar to Meursault than Mattew.

To start, Meursault and Marie are both victims of circumstance. In both their stories, they end up killing someone for reasons out of their control. Marie had no intention to kill her father by simply slapping him, and while Meursault does try to kill the Arab by shooting him, it happens because of a combination of the wrong place at the wrong time. But they quickly adjust to their new lives, which goes to show that they are also emotionally detached. Even though they committed the most terrible of crimes, they show almost no remorse and continue on with their new lives almost as if nothing had happened.

Why Did Matthew Carry the Hand Grenade?

By Ben S

In Film

In the film, Trust, by Hal Hartley, Matthew carries a hand grenade that his father brought back from the Korean War. When asked why, he responds, “Just in case.” I believe, that in the beginning, Matthew had given up on life before he had met Maria. He had become disinterested in life and upset with society and its systems. He was already disillusioned with getting a job doing something he hated and was likely considering using the hand grenade as he carried it with him at all times.

The grenade is also an example of Chekov’s gun. Chekhov’s gun is a literary principle where an element is first introduced in a story that appears to not be very relevant but will later take on a lot of significance. If you remembered the hand grenade, you were likely waiting for it to come back and how it would be used. I know that I was very interested in what would go wrong as Matthew only seemed to carry it when he was without Maria.

I think that the grenade represents his disinterest in life. When he meets Maria and she asks about how it works, he decides to leave it in the cabinet. Maria reignited his interest in life and motivated him to participate in society for her. He is willing to do things he hates and doesn’t agree with. However, when Maria says she won’t marry him, it is the last straw for him and he decides to attack the institution he hates. Specifically he decides to pull the pin at the television factory.

Mindset vs. Contentment

By Eric Y

Like Sisyphus, Meursault experiences “true freedom” after embracing his unfavorable condition. Both characters experience an epiphany that transforms their thinking into that of an absurdist. Despite being physically imprisoned, both manage to achieve a form of mental liberation by altering their mindsets. To them, physical torture and isolation are no longer punishments but rather a natural aspect of being human.

The absurdist belief almost seems to express that freedom is a state of mind. Though their situations differ, they find an escape by shifting their focus from external conditions to internal awareness. Sisyphus finds pleasure in his constant persistence and Meursault expresses joy in his rejection of societal expectations. They both feel content in the face of horrible circumstances by changing their thinking. While these examples are extreme, I believe they accurately demonstrate how powerful your mindset really is. It can transform even the most constrictive conditions into a sense of freedom.

The Problem with Existentialism

By Liam C

On October 11, 2024

In Albert Camus, Existentialism, Stranger

Existentialism is a concept that frustrates a lot of people. The idea that the people they love, the God they believe in and the success they achieve are absolutely meaningless. It seems almost impossible to think about. Due to this, not many people tend to believe in existentialism at all. It’s a frustrating, and demoralizing concept that if we are being honest, we would be better off not thinking about it. The stranger demonstrates existentialism very well, but the main character is killed for his way of living, and, from the outside view, he would be better off experiencing emotions and reality through a more “standard” way. None of this, though, is my problem with existentialism. My problem with the concept is that unless you are somehow born into a state of existentialism (which we are to assume Meursault was?) it is seemingly impossible to grow into. What I mean is this- every single decision we make is the result of the system we were born into. Go to school, go to college, care for you family, believe in God- whatever the system that you were introduced to through your upbringing greatly influences the way you think and act. It makes up your character. So how is it possible to “free your mind”, throw away everything you know and somehow live for yourself. To simply not care about your family, about your religion, about your life. Even if you were to attempt to do this, you would be doing it in opposition of the systems you live in, which would mean that you understand what you “should” be doing and are simply doing the opposite. This isn’t even existentialism, it’s simply rebellion. For example, after being raised to care for your parent’s all your life, choosing to not care for them would be denying the emotions that you definitely have for them, which is simply denying your emotions, not actually living without care. Unless some sort of crazy (not spiritual, because “spiritual” is a made up concept) mind freeing (not ritual, because a ritual is a made up concept) thing is possible, existentialism isn’t. In my opinion.

Next Step: Stop Motion?

By Margaret D

On October 11, 2024

In Film, Stranger

It boggles my mind that none of the adaptations of The Stranger by Albert Camus have been created through stop motion.

While stop motion was initially used to create scenes otherwise requiring CGI, more recently it has also been used as a medium for creators to express very specific, semi unconventional, film styles. Similarly to how The Stranger does not follow the traditional story format (lack of chapter cliff hangers, relatively straightforward sentence structures), stop motion is often created with the intentions to “break the rules.”

A personal favorite example is Fantastic Mr. Fox, the 2009 film directed by Wes Anderson. Not only are a wide variety of materials used, but the movie pushes the limits of perspectives as well as 2 versus 3 dimensional scenes. The ability to shoot any scene however the director desires would make converting the oddness of the life within The Stranger into a visual form so much more fluid.

Character designs in stop motion, like animation, are also malleable in the sense that they can be as distinct as the material requires. For The Stranger this would mean defining the secondary characters as foils on different levels than just their actions. Visually, these foils, or characters whose personal traits are used to emphasize those of the main character, could contrast through differences in colors, sizes, and shapes. Not only would this allow the relationships between the main character, Meursault, and others to be more clearly defined on the screen, but it would help the characters retain their complexity as well.

I am not certain that every book should be adapted into a film, but doing so for The Stranger, especially if done well (so in my opinion through stop motion), would allow more people to access the material. This content directly challenges our society and how we function within it, so increasing the accessibility to this story may be an important next step.

The Stranger & the Seinfeld Finale

By Joe K

On October 11, 2024

In Albert Camus, Stranger, TV

As I was reading the second half of The Stranger, the court case reminded me a lot of the final episode of Seinfeld. Meursault’s case in The Stranger was based heavily off his character, in fact there was barely any actual discussion of his crime. The prosecution brought in nearly every character Meursault introduced us to during the novel. They all gave testimonies that were mainly about his behaviors, habit, personality, and general disposition. The case resulted in Meursault being put to death.

Seinfeld‘s “The Finale” pays a direct homage to Camus in the way they finished the television show. In “The Finale” the four main characters, Jerry, George, Kramer, and Elaine, are caught making fun of a person being robbed at gun point. They are charged the newly instated “good Samaritan law” that allows bystanders to be prosecuted if they decide not to help a person in potential harm. They are taken to court, and just like Meursault, the prosecution brings lots of witnesses. Nearly every side character from all nine seasons of Seinfeld are brought to testify against them. Everyone tells their story and how the main characters have wronged them. The judge comes to the verdict that they are terrible people and gives them a year of prison.

I was always a fan of the way Seinfeld ended despite controversy from the fan base. As I watched it for the first time and as I re watched it I always enjoyed seeing characters I forgot about. It was definitely on a smaller scale in The Stranger, but I still enjoyed it in a similar way.

Weather in The Stranger

By nstelzerjocks61

On October 10, 2024

In Albert Camus, Uncategorized

I believe the weather and temperature in The Stranger represents Meursault’s character and his emotions completely.

Since the beginning of the story, we have seen how Meursault is an emotionless, almost cold, man who never shows his personality, especially not towards other people in his life. Not for his mother’s death, nor for his love interest, Marie. It isn’t until the heat and sun show up that we see his emotions, and I believe that both of those aspects are representations of his emotions that he has been hiding this whole time.

Such as when he shoots the man on the beach, he describes how he is simply walking with the gun, and he sees the man. Fear isn’t expressed and he doesn’t show how nervous he is, until the sun gets into his eyes when the man steps up to him with the knife. As soon as the sun flashes in his eyes, the diction of the story gets extensive and intense and although he doesn’t fully tell the reader how he’s feeling, the sun expresses it for him. The sun is blazing and so is the heat, expressing how he is stressed over this intense situation. His sweat gets into his eyes and suddenly he can’t see, expressing his fear over the fight that he is in, all without directly revealing his emotion.

And we as readers can tell when he is at peace when the weather is calm or cool. Especially when he is laying in his cell after yelling at the priest (I forgot what his official title was). The weather is calm, the stars are out and it’s a cool summer night, like the ones he enjoyed so much outside of prison. When the weather calms, after the heat of yelling at the priest, he has come to acceptance that he is about to be executed.

Overall, I really liked The Stranger and definitely found this to be the most interesting aspect of the story.

Dust in the Wind – Kansas

By Sonja E.

On October 9, 2024

In Albert Camus, Existentialism, Music

“Dust in the Wind” is pretty reflective of a lot of what Meursault comes to realize at the end of The Stranger.

In the face of his imminent execution, Meursault realizes that his life has no ultimate meaning other than to be lived, and that the events of life are completely impersonal. This allows him to die happy/content.

Kansas echoes the idea that our actions are ultimately irrelevant in the grand scheme of things, saying “don’t hang on, nothin’ lasts forever but the earth and sky. It slips away. And all your money won’t another minute buy.” Meursault would agree with this– the world doesn’t care what you do.

This idea is continued throughout the song with lyrics like “Just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see,” and of course, “all we are is dust in the wind. ” This is also literal, because after death we decompose.

I do think the message of “Dust in the Wind” is slightly more positive than Meursault’s take, more focused on enjoying life while we have it. However, they are essentially saying the same thing: our lives have no real consequence, so we are free to live them the way we want.

We are, after all, just dust in the wind!

Nude- A Radiohead Classic.

By akarolyi23

On October 9, 2024

Nude is a song created with musical whispers and haunting lyrics. Thom Yorkes’s soft and scratching vocals explain the fight between yourself and the world. This song makes one feel like they are floating in space, surrounded by worries, despairs, hopes, and dreams.

Nude suggested an emotional unraveling like Meursault’s realization of the absurdity of life, “Don’t get any big ideas, they’re not gonna happen.” echoes Meurasults life lyrics. Explaining how humans have a preconceived delusion of aspirations, These lyrics can be seen as how we don’t have control over our lives or our world, our desires aren’t always bent with how our life is structured. During his time behind bars, Meursault gets his big ideas of wanting to be a free man, and what he would do during his time as a free man. If he could go back in time and change his actions, fix his relationships, and live his life outside of the social structure of the daily 9-5, he would do everything differently and live as though he only had a day left to live every day. The lyrics in Nude reflect the striving for unattainable ideas, exactly how Meursault eventually accepts the absurdity notion of life, and he finds peace in it and confronts it with his death.

“Now that you found it, it’s gone.”

Meursault finds his life while living in alienation, he is able to scramble his thoughts and come up with how he would re-do his life if he had the opportunity. These lyrics in Nude symbolize how we humans never truly understand what we have until it is gone, he found his willingness to live as he was on the path to meeting the grim reaper. Albert Camus wants us to understand that we should be on that path NOW, as our lungs are filled with air, and as “We know what we have, and it’s not gone.” Taking control of the absurdity of life, disregarding social structures, and living life without preconceived notions.

Creep

By Dominic T

On October 9, 2024

Firstly, I enjoyed reading Albert Camus’ very interesting and meaningful novel, The Stranger. However, it was what seemed to me like a very depressing book. I think the novel as a whole is related to the song “Creep” by Radiohead, and captures themes of alienation and existential despair that connect with Meursault. In Creep, Thom Yorke’s feelings of being inadequate correlate with Meursault’s emotional detachment from society and his experiences of being judged for his indifference. The repeated line “I don’t belong here” in the song resonates with Meursault’s sense of not fitting into societal norms and expectations. For example, Meursault’s actions and attitude at his mother’s funeral along with his murder trial. Both the song and the novel demonstrate the struggle with identity and the search for meaning in what seems to be an indifferent world.

Dozing off for a while

By Dominic T

In Stranger

While reading The Stranger by Albert Camus, I couldn’t help but notice how frequently Meursault falls asleep, or as he likes to say “dozing off”.

At the start of the story, while Meursault is with the nurse and the caretaker, he describes how nice his coffee is, and the smell of the flowers, however, he never talks about how he’s feeling about his dead mother. He includes that he thinks he “dozed off for a while” (9). Interestingly, he says he thinks he dozed off, which seems as if he isn’t really paying attention to what’s going on with his mother. Furthermore, after Meursault and Marie get into an argument about Raymond and Marie leaving, Meursault dozed off. The way Meursault described how he and Marie were getting along that day seemed rather negative. After she left and Meursault had nothing to do, he “slept a while” (37). It seems as if Meursault is constantly sleeping in order to hide his feelings or to pass time. Obviously, Meursault is constantly taking a nap, however, how is this significant to the story and his character? Why does Meursault always doze off and how does it relate to him as a character?

Thoughts on The Stranger

By Charlie S.

In Albert Camus, Existentialism

As someone who is currently reading The Stranger and taking psychology, Meursault seems like a very left-hemisphered person. He lacks his right hemisphere, the brain region responsible for humanity, morals, and deemed essential human values. He lacks emotion, feeling, and altruism; there is no instance in the novel where he has feeling and emotion for others. But he still has will to live. Meursault may partially live on hedonistic pursuit, only really seeking sensory pleasures like swimming, smoking, and physical relationships. However, his actions are not driven by a deep desire for pleasure but rather by a passive acceptance of life’s experiences, its innate futility.

Despite his lack of emotion, Meursault’s will to live is clear. He does not actively seek death, and his reactions to his inevitable execution reflect a complex relationship with existence. His epiphany where he accepts the absurdity of life and its inherent futility underscore his existentialist journey. Is this journey caused by his inability to have empathy and feeling? Perhaps. But he nonetheless finds meaning in life, even if it is in ways that others would condemn.

Existentialism

By Lydia B

In Albert Camus, Existentialism, Power and Identity

What is the meaning of life? Everyone has thought about this question at some point in their lives. Is there a purpose for our existence or is everything just random, absurd, and meaningless? The Stranger by Albert Camus highlights these ideas. Meursault embodies indifference and detachment in a seemingly absurd world.

Camus, associated with absurdity, argues that life is inherently meaningless. This leads to the clash between our desire for purpose and the irrationality of existence. Meursault’s apathetic response to significant events, such as his mother’s death and the murder, challenges the societal expectations of emotion and meaning.

Through Meursault’s experiences, Camus suggests that if life lacks an inherent purpose, we must be the ones to create our own meaning, we have to create our own paths. This realization should be liberating, allowing us to embrace our freedom and live authentically. Rather than seeking an external purpose, we can focus on defining what makes our lives worthwhile.

So, if you ever encounter the question of the meaning of life, think of the themes in The Stranger. The meaning of life is what you want it to be. You have total control over your view on life and if that’s different than everyone else’s, let it be. The “meaning of life” is a social construct. Your meaning of life is the authentic path, decisions, and perspectives that shape your world from the day you’re born until the day you die.

What is your meaning of life?

“Maman died today”

By Poppy B.

One of the most interesting parts of Albert Camus’ The Stranger is Meursault’s relationship to his mother. While, in the end, Meursault’s perceived lack of love for his mother led to him being sentenced to death, numerous moments throughout the text implied that he did care about her. Just after he arrives at the old people’s home, he states that he wants to see his mother right away (4). He calls her “Maman,” an endearing term suggesting that he cares for her. Still, he is quickly distracted by the director and from that point becomes entirely focused on the world around him, no longer concerned with seeing his mother.

Meursault quickly moves on from any disruption caused by the death, meeting up with Marie the very next day.

However, Meursault references his mother continually throughout the rest of the story. As Meursault is very independent, it stands out when he talks about another person, and especially when he takes advice from them. Almost every time he thinks about his mother, he thinks about advice that she gave him or he took from her. At the end of the book, Meursault makes connections between the end of her life and the end of his. He states, “Maman must have felt free then and ready to live it all again. Nobody, nobody had the right to cry over her. And I felt ready to live it all again too” (122). Meursault’s mother had such a strong influence on him that she was one of the last things he thought of.

“It Doesn’t Matter”

By Luca T

In Stranger

Throughout the book, Meursault uses the phrase “It doesn’t matter” often to reflect his detached attitude and lack of emotion. Initially, specifically during times of loss and sadness, he uses this word to set himself apart from society standards and expectations. By the book’s end, though, it has transformed into an effective statement of his independence.

This statement, spoken by Meursault after facing his fate, indicates an honest acceptance of life’s basic meaninglessness. It shows his rejection of the social constraints to justify pain or uphold moral standards. Rather, he accepts the idea that nothing can genuinely have meaning—not even life and death—because existence itself is random.

The statement also refers to a larger existential topic, which is the idea that people must find meaning for themselves in a heartless the universe. By stating that “it doesn’t matter,” Meursault breaks free from the demands made of him. In this acceptance, he finds a sense of calm and liberty, even in the face of death.

In the end, this scene shows Meursault’s character’s transformation, from emotional distance to a deep realization of independence through acceptance. It highlights the main point of the book, which is that living really can bring comfort even in a lack of answers from the universe.

Physical Needs vs. Mentality

By Ryan Wozniak

A certain line caught my eye while reading the last part of The Stranger by Albert Camus. It’s in the first paragraph on page 65 when Meursault is conversing with his lawyer. Meursault mentions that “my physical needs often got in the way of my feelings.” This line really got me thinking, because throughout the novel I had been trying to reason and relate with the way Meursault acts as a means of understanding him better. However, up until this point in the story, I hadn’t come up with a good way to describe Meursault’s actions.

Reading this line made me look back and I realized that throughout the book this statement Meursault makes holds true. He constantly complains about the sun and how hot he is at his mother’s funeral, at the beach before he kills the Arab, and even somewhat at the courthouse. His relationship with Marie is almost purely physical, at least from his perspective. If he is in a situation where he is physically uncomfortable or doesn’t feel good, he wants to leave it as soon as possible.

While in my previous post, I credited Meursault for living a carefree life, I now see that more than anything Meursault is a weak human. He has no mental strength, or rather, no ability to surpass situations that he finds physically uncomfortable. Meursault does not have the ability to endure, and I believe that even if he was put in an extreme situation this would hold true. Although The Stranger at its core is about the absurdity of life, I took more meaning away from this single line than the entirety of the last part of the book after Merusault meets with the Chaplain.

Are We All Sisyphus?

By Alex G

In Albert Camus, Existentialism

There was a brief part of one of my English classes where my teacher alluded to all of us being Sisyphus in some capacity. This immediately got my attention and made me think about if society has turned us all into eternal laborers. After about 30 minutes of thinking during my lunch period I came to the conclusion that almost all of us resemble Sisyphus in some way. For 99 percent of the population, a boulder is pushed up a ramp every day. The metaphorical boulder can come in many forms such as work, school, and interpersonal relationships.

While these things can feel like eternal battles, I feel that there is one big difference between the classic Sisyphean struggle and the struggle we all experience daily: enjoyment. As humans, we’re able to find joy in things we don’t want to do. For school, we’re able to enjoy certain subjects and talk to our friends. For work, we can be close with our co-workers and be part of an industry that genuinely makes us happy. And as for relationships, those are supposed to be enjoyable; our partners are supposed to make us feel whole and improve our quality of life.

Before I wrap this blog post up, I want to talk about the 1 percent of people I referred to earlier, the people that don’t push up a boulder every day. I feel that those are the happiest people. Whether it be from an abundance of money or just not caring, they are truly free. They can choose to push up a boulder one day, rest on a different day, or help someone with their boulder the next. Only then do I feel that someone is truly happy. This freedom is what we should all strive for.

In conclusion, most people regularly deal with a Sisyphean struggle, making most people Sisyphus in some capacity. With this being said, our struggles are not as depressing or hopeless as pushing a boulder up a ramp for all of eternity. We are able to enjoy our struggles due to our nature to persevere and make the best of situations. And that human spirit saves us from being fully Sisyphean.

The Sun: The Pressure to Conform

By Ethan N

The sun follows Meursault throughout his journey in The Stranger. At his mother’s burial ad when he kills the Arab, the sun beats down on our protagonist. Then, on death’s door, the sun is noticeably absent and the nighttime sky is left to comfort Meursault in his final moments. The sun’s presence reminds Meursault of the expectations of society. When walking to bury his mom, the sun induces a great sweat, seemingly compensating for the lack of tears welling in Meursault’s eyes with a bodily equivalent. When killing the Arab, the sun blinds Meursault, trying desperately to prevent him from seeing his mark, to save him from killing him and ending his own life. In these moments, the sun antagonizes Meursault, trying to reign him into societal norms. And so, Meursault resents the sun. He feels its oppressive presence and rejects it. It is logical then, that when he finally accepts his individual reality, the sun no longer nags at him. He is freed from his subjugation beneath it and is allowed to look at the stars.

Happiness in the Face of Absurdity

By Vivienne L

Camus presents Sisyphus as the quintessential absurd hero, condemned to an eternal cycle of rolling a boulder uphill only for it to roll back down in the underworld. This myth serves as a metaphor for the human condition, characterized by pointless struggle and the search for meaning in an indifferent world and society. Camus argues that Sisyphus finds a form of happiness in his acceptance of this absurdity. It is in the moments of awareness during his descent that Sisyphus rises above his suffering, recognizing the absurdity of his fate without giving in to despair. Camus asserts that true happiness comes from this acknowledgment of life’s inherent meaninglessness; where the individual finds freedom in defiance against their fate.

By embracing Camus’ philosophy – we can reframe challenges as opportunities for personal growth rather than mere burdens. This perspective encourages us to find joy in the process, celebrating small victories instead of fixating solely on outcomes. Camus reminds us that acknowledging the absurdity of these struggles can empower collective action. Finding a sense of purpose in the acceptance of life’s absurdities, urges us to imagine not just Sisyphus, but all of us, happy in our relentless pursuit of meaning amidst the chaos.

Myth of Sisyphus Reflection

By jpearson53

Camus’s argument based off of the myth of Sisyphus, or that human misery is brought about by our coveting of things we don’t really need, is true. Camus’s argument, while provocative, holds a lot of truth to it. Sisyphus himself, after being eternally damned to roll a stone up a hill, initially coveted life on earth, in which he “enjoyed water and sun, warm stones and the sea.” As he gradually loses his hope of regaining his life on Earth, and the bonds between himself and his life on earth are severed, however, he learns to appreciate “each atom of [the] stone, each mineral flake of that night filled mountain.” Sisyphus, in learning to be in happy when removed from all the chaos that that he originally clung to on Earth and in society, shows that beings not just don’t know what is good for them, but actively seek out that which is not. Furthermore, the contrast between readers’ initial reaction of disgust to the punishment of engaging in manual labor for all eternity and the Sisyphus’s final neutral or even happy stance on his punishment is demonstrates that humans are unaware of what will make them happy.I agree with his reading of the myth, as in my personal experience, my prolonged periods of feeling mostly contentedness were more dependent on my mindset than anything else, and happiness in times of torture can only mean something as drastic as all of our “systems” being self-destructive at their root.

Camus’s theory of the world can be interpreted in two ways: with relief or with reluctance.

The first way is obviously the interpretation of an optimist: once they read that humanity is essentially dooming itself by focusing on the chaos of the world, the optimist recognizes that it is indeed possible to be happy in any situation. This fact they see as a relief and immediately strive to change their mindset to be closer to Sisyhpus’s by the end of the story, to accept what they are given and ignore what they are taught to want.

The second way of interpretation of Camus’s theory is that of a pessimist: once the pessimist sees that humanity is making itself miserable, we see that misery as inevitable and accept it with open arms because changing one’s mindset to totally ignore the chaos in society we are taught before we can even question to cover.

Cumus’s theory illuminates the way I see the world because I believe that to be happy, you need a good mindset. In my experience, the prolonged periods of joy have not deprived from material things or achievements, but from my almost unconscious decision to appreciate what I have and not focus on the chaos. This mindset falls under the category of interpreting Camus’s view through the lens of an optimist. I would, if I completely agreed with Camus theory, urge others to see his theory and the rest of life through the lens of an optimist and recognize that their misery does not derive from the chaos, but from their own focus on the chaos.

Does Sisyphus Suffer?

By Alana S.

In his essay, “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Albert Camus argues that Sisyphus does not endure the eternal suffering that he was condemned to but instead that he was able to find moments of joyfulness in his punishment. Camus argues that while it may have been physically strenuous for Sisyphus to push the rock up the hill, he was able to find moments to himself in his thoughts on his way down the mountain to begin pushing the rock back up. In the very end of the essay, Camus argues that the process of life and struggle in itself is fulfilling.
I agree with Camus in many aspects of his argument. I have a hard time believing that Sisyphus could have enjoyed pushing a rock up a never ending hill but I can understand him finding solace in his moments to himself on the way down. He was able to ponder whatever he wished whether it be fond memories, philosophical questions, or funny stories in his imagination and I have no doubt about the human ability to find joy within these thoughts.
I also agree that many struggles in life are fulfilling however, I do not see this as the case in this situation. I think that struggles are only fulfilling when we are working toward a main goal or we know that we will learn a lesson along the way. In Sisyphus’s case, he must have realized at some point that this would be his life for the rest of eternity and as such, he could not have thought himself to be working toward a goal or learning a lesson.

The Stranger and the Sun

By Henry K

Throughout the course of The Stranger, the Sun and temperature is emphasized at different points throughout the story. During Maman’s funeral, the sun is “bearing down” and the heat is “inhuman and oppressive” (15). And the heat of the sun is mentioned again when Meursalt is about to shoot the Arab. Meursalt even thinks that “the sun was the same as it had been the day I’d buried Maman” (58). And finally, during Meursalt’s trial the heat is mentioned again. He observes that “it was getting hotter, and I could see people in the courtroom fanning themeselves with newspapers” (86).

All three of these moments are very important to the development in the story. Maman’s funeral is an event that’s referenced many times throughout the book and is important to Meursalt’s character development. Meursalt shooting the Arab is a pivotal moment in the book that leads to his imprisonment and sets up the entire second half of the book. And the trial is anther hugely important event that leads to Meursalt being executed. Meursalt is a character that doesn’t experience emotions very often, but during these moments, Meursalt is forced to confront his feelings because of the seriousness of the events. I believe that Meursalt notices the stifling heat in these moments because they force him into a situation where he’s not sure how to react and he feels trapped.

Because of this I find it interesting that right before Meursalt’s execution, instead of feeling heat, he says that “smells of night, earth, and salt air were cooling my temples” (122). His execution is one of the most important events in the book which makes it confusing that instead of emphasizing the sun, like Camus normally does in moments like these, he mentions the cool night. But unlike the other moments when the sun is mentioned, Meursalt knows exactly what he’s thinking and feels free. Meursalt no longer feels a stifling heat because he fully understands his belief about life and it sets him free.

Myth of Sisyphus Reflection

By Anna R

Sisyphus is happy because he makes himself happy. He has realized that the boulder will continually roll down and he will continuously push it up until his life is over. Camus makes it clear that there is no end until the actual end. Specifically mentioning and refers to people who take suicide as the “short way out” He mentions that life can either be a continual wave of pain, or you could find it happy. Camus relates that to human life where life is going to be meaningless and repetitive, specifically the work life. Life is going to be worthless if you don’t enjoy the hill you’re pushing up on.

In addition to this, he mentions the specific break when he’s not pushing the boulder up, and there are a few moments before it rolls back down. That is specifically referring to the moments when you get a chance to breathe and look back on life.

I honestly do agree with this. I’ve gone through various “sufferings” in the past couple of years, but I try to make the best of it. Things like pain are going to happen no matter what but I truly only do have a limited amount of time in life. Why not make the better of it? I have found myself thinking this way over the past year, which has positively affected my relationships with others, my overall mood, and my general experience with life. I see the mundane experiences and joyous moments and it has gotten me to truly enjoy life more.

The Choices VS. Actions

By Mara K