Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Stranger: Journal #3

Q: Why do you think Camus divided his novel into two parts? Use textual evidence to support your answer (consider how does Meursault changes, what are some parallel ideas and scenes, etc.).

I think that Camus divided the novel into two different parts to add emphasis to the change in character that Meursault undergoes. Because the novel is told in first person, the a lot of the book is composed of Meursaults thoughts. In part one Meursault thoughts were short and choppy, "I wished I didn't have to listen to her anymore. But I didn't dare say anything" (Camus, 10). The sentences are simple and short, which make Meursaults thoughts appear to either be simple and short, or that he does not include the reader into every thought, there is no clear flow from one thought to the next. In part two there is shift in Meursault's character that is shown through his thoughts, "I gazed at my reflection one more time. It was still serious - and what was surprising about that, since at that moment I was too?" (Camus, 81). Clearly, the sentences of his subconscious are much deeper and longer, being portrayed with more complex sentences. I think this shift is in part because he is in prison all by himself, and therefore he has more time to actually open up to himself and reflect on how he feels, so we see a different side of him.

As far as parallels go, the same colors are continued in the second half of the book. At the beginning of the trial, Camus describes the red robes, and the black a ties, the white fans. The Robotic woman, appears again, watching him. When she was described in part one she had bright eyes, and the man that was watching him that Meursault felt was himself had bright eyes. The people judging him are very similar to how part one started with the old people in the vigil. He was unable to distinguish individuals in both scenes. As far as his thoughts go, we see a change as earlier addressed, but there are also the same type of thoughts, the trial irritated him and "The utter pointlessness of whatever I was doing there [...] I wanted to get it over with and get back to my cell and sleep" (Camus 105).

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