The Stranger #5

Trevism

1. Don't complain. -This is a principle because a person should never complain about what they have, especially a person that has a lot of wealth. This is because you should try to reach a level of happiness with whatever you have. You're better off than someone else if you have food on your plate, so why make a big deal if you can't have dessert.
2. Ask smart questions. - This is a principle because if you already know the answer to a question don't ask it because it wastes time and time is a gift. If you're going to ask a question make it meaningful and ask something you can get a worthy answer out of.
3. Be respectful of your parents. -This is a principle because your parents brought you into this world. You should always be grateful for them. Respecting your parents is a key part of Trevism because parents provide and take care of you and that should never be forgotten.
4. Try new things when presented with an opportunity. -This is a principle because you never no what you may miss. While you're alive you must try to get all you can out of your life and you can help yourself to do that by trying everything you can.
5. Meet new people. - This is a principle because you should always be trying to meet new people and make more connections. The more connections you have, the farther you can go. Meeting people is a great way to experience things and will add to life experiences.
6. Be frugle. - This is a principle because saving money is almost a must in times today. If you spend too freely you'll end up running out of money or in debt. Being in debt is not good because owing people money will eventually build up against you. The trick is to spend carefully.
7. Be a good Sameritan. - This is a principle because it is a good quality to help others. Helping others makes them feel good and it makes you feel good. Often times karma returns the gift if you are nice to someone else.

The Stranger #4

Meursault comes to the conclusions that life has no meaning and that every person is living just to die. Although, he does also find that it is possible to find happiness in the little things. I think that Camus wanted to reader to realize that Meursault came to these conclusions. Not in an attempt that the reader believes them as well, but to inform the reader and dissuade them from believing those things in their own life. Except for finding happiness, I think that that was his main message near the end of the story. Camus was trying to get people to understand that they can find happiness in anything.

The Stranger Journal #3

I think that Camus chose to split the novel into two parts because he was trying to emphasize the changes taking place in Meursault and his life. First, the fact that he makes it two parts just clearly shows that Meursault is a different person. He's the same character but his personality has changed and that is shown in part two, especially when he says that he "lost the habit of analyzing" himself (Camus 65). The use of colors is still continued through the two parts. Meursault lost the ability to analyze himself but he is still good about analyzing other people's actions and his past. There is a strong appearance of religion in the second part, when the magistrate is trying to convince Meursault to adopt God, and religion is almost absent in the first part of the book. The most interesting thing I found is that the intense imagery of the sun and light have almost entirely gone absent from part two of the novel. I think Camus chose to do that because he was trying to highlight the fact that Meursault was in a dark prison cell, and there is a 'lack of hope' in part two as well. At first it seems like Meursault could get out of his situation but when he tells the Magistrate he doesn't not believe in God his chances of being freed drop significantly. Speaking of which, the lack of light imagery could connect with Meursault's rejection of religion! God=light. Boom.

The Stranger Journal #2

I think the reason Camus chose to write in first person was to help the reader better identify with Meursault. From a first person point of view it is easier for the reader to understand his thoughts because in third person omniscient the reader is being told what the character is thinking but they aren't really experiencing it for themselves. I think the purpose for Camus doing this is that it gives the readers more inside knowledge into Meursault. It helps us (the readers) to better understand his actions, why he does what he does,  and his intentions when the other characters in the story can't. Also, first person point of view allows the reader to make their own assumptions about the character of Meursault since they do not get to experience the other characters opinions. This is important to the novel because Meursault is a complex character to me, and he his constantly changing and first person point of view allows the reader to keep up with that change more fluidly than third person.

The Stranger Journal #1

Ramond Sintes is described as a pimp, who is quite hot headed and often gets into fights because he sees himself as a big tough guy. He comes to play the role of Meursault's "pal", which I'm assuming relates to how people are best friends. In this way he begins to have a stronger influence on Meursault as they grow closer and I think that Sintes' hatred of his ex-girlfriend's Arab brother and friends transfers over to Meursault. With Sintes, I think that Camus is trying to represent the beginning of the change in Meursault's life since they were not "pals" before Meursault's mother passed away, and Sintes now represents the mental change Meursault is going through.

Marie Cardona is introduced as a pretty girl that quickly becomes Meursault's girlfriend. I think her role in the novel is to bring out the Nihilism that is in Meursault. This book was written with many philosophies and I think that Marie is a representation of Nihilism. She continuously asks Meursault if he loves her and then brings up the question of marriage and Meursault replies that it doesn't matter. This implies that he believes love has no real meaning to him and starts to show how he begins to think nothing matters. Also, Marie is a contrast to Meursault. She is always asking him questions and pushing the relationship while Meursault is somewhat lazy in my eyes. This contrast shows Meursault's lack of motivation to do anything which can also connect to Nihilism through Existentialism. Meaning that, in the article we read in class today, it said that when an existentialist realizes that their is no meaning behind their life they often fall into despair or Nihilism.

Salamano is brought in to the novel as a character who rages at his dog that is suffering from Mange. However, through all of his hate it is still clear that he loves his dog because he faithfully walks it twice a day, and when he loses it he becomes quite sad. I think that Salamano serves as a contrast to Meursault because he takes care of his dog even when it is old and difficult to care for and he often comes frusterated with it, which contrasts with how Meursault just moved his mother out when caring for her got too difficult. In making this contrast I think that Camus is trying to emphasize Meursault's lack of emotion, not all emotion, just his feelings of sadness which I think in turn characterizes Meursault.