VOCABULARY PART 2 The Stranger

Def: a philosophical movement which proposes that existence precedes essence, that there are no absolute value systems to guide humanity, and that individuals freely construct their own sense of being and meaning. No guideposts in the world. Existentialism n.

Def: a person who hates or mistrusts all of humankind Misanthrope n.

Impunity n. Syn: exemption Def: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss Impunity n.

I ate the cake with impunity, knowing that Mother had always liked me best.

FUTILE ADJ SYN: POINTLESS HAVING NO CHANCE OF BEING EFFECTIVE OR SUCCESSFUL Noun version: futility

To Albert Camus, our constant attempts to find ___________________ in life are futile since there is no such thing to be found.

Base adj. SYN: vulgar Low class, lowdown, vulgar, slightly immoral

Many people would consider the behavior of Meursault’s friend ___________________ to be very base; however, Meusault just becomes “friends” with him and even helps him to get away with beating the girl.

Abyss noun SYN: chasm A very deep hole or space that seems to have no bottom

As Charlie walked to school, he found himself staring into the dark abyss of his own___________________________.

Tirade noun SYN: diatribe A long angry speech criticizing someone or something

The prosecutor went on an angry tirade, accusing Meursualt of having no _________________________.

Odious adj. SYN: loathsome Hateful, disgusting, extremely bad

Although murder is an odious act, meursault feels _____________________ about his victim.

Cordial adj. SYN: polite Friendly and polite, but formal Noun version: cordiality

Meursault felt a sense of cordiality in the room although he was on trial for __________________.

Debauchery noun SYN: depravity Immoral behavior involving drugs, sex, alcohol, etc.

The magistrates feel that anyone who does not believe in _______________________ probably leads a life of debauchery.

Big ideas in the Stranger by Albert Camus

What is the one thing that none of us can escape?

Yes, that is correct.

Camus and the “Absurdist” idea: Because we do not want to think that our lives are lived for nothing, and because we are afraid of death, we look for meaning wherever we can find it. What are some areas of life that provide meaning, or a sense of purpose?

Family and friendship

religion

Romantic love

What are Meursault’s experiences with religion, with love, with friendship, and with family?

Well… *He is not sad when his mother dies. *He does not “love” Marie. *He is friends with anyone who asks him. *He certainly is not religious. So, what is Camus’s point?

Part of Camus’ point is that Meursault is a “stranger” because he is the rare person who does not conform to society’s ideas of what makes life “meaningful.” He is always honest and does not play the game of pretending that there is some deeper meaning to life.

A threat! This makes Meursault threatening to the social order – if he is telling and living the truth, that really nothing has any kind of permanent “meaning” except for the two facts that we are born and we die – then he is dangerous. If he says, for example, that he killed somebody because of “the sun,” and he is telling the truth, that is just too “random” (as you young Cavs like to say)

Absurd! The absurd part , according to Camus, is humanity’s FUTILE attempt to impose meaning or importance on a universe which operates strictly by chance and which is completely and permanently indifferent to human lives. For example, the poor Czechoslovakian man in the newspaper article that Meursault finds in his cell. He does everything right, and the result is that his own mother kills him, then she kills herself and so does his sister. Absurd! But true. The man could never have known that it would turn out this way – a tragic joke.

What keeps Meursault going if he does not believe in anything? He likes the beach He likes the way Marie looks and feels He likes ice cream He enjoys a cup of coffee He likes the way the city sounds and looks around sundown He likes SOUND, TOUCH, SMELL, TASTE, AND SIGHT…and that is enough for him.

To be continued…

Sisyphyus: the absurdist hero

The end