Sorry guys. 

Yesterday we discussed Mersault’s interrogation and trial. We focused, as did his interrogators, on the lack of emotion he showed during his mother’s funeral.  While there was much debate as to whether he did not care or was simply lacking “the trappings and the suits of woe,”  I believe we came to the consensus that he was not reacting “normally” to the situation, whatever the cause.

We also discussed the fact that nearly everyone he interacts with is trying to help him in some way, but he either outright rejects the help or ignores the offer.  (See specifically the Inspector and the Chaplain’s attempts to “help” Mersault.)

My questions to you today:

• What types of things does he most often think about?  (The future/the past/the present, emotions/ideas, people/what he’s currently experiencing….)
• Does he act logically?  (Think about our discussion of his reaction to his mother’s death—Is the “normal” reaction that people have logical, or something else?)
• Is he ever emotional?  When?
• Why does he not seem to want to fight for his freedom?  (See “Hope” in yesterday’s post.)  What is it about his outlook on life that makes this impossible?

Finally, take a look at the last lines of the book:

As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.

Discuss.  Take notes.  I’ll look over these tomorrow.

Brief synopsis of our discussion in class today.  More to come tomorrow.  Why does there seem to be an absence of hope in the novel?

Hey all, hope your break is going well.  This is just a reminder that your conformity/rebellion essays (yep, those from all those months ago) will be due no later than this Monday.  If you have any questions, please shoot me an email or post a comment.  I’m here to help, but it’s time to get them in.

For the rest of you: Keep reading your personal novels; I hope to begin writing by the end of the coming week.  We will discuss the ending of The Stranger on Monday.

We’ve finished up Things Fall Apart and are now moving on to Camus’s The Stranger.  This is an interesting take on the identity theme we’ve been exploring, so I’m excited to see how you like it.

This story is a classic example of existentialist literature (as we discussed in class), so this should be a good representation of the “personal choice” aspect of our breakdown of identity, but we may find otherwise.

We will read to Part Two this weekend (page 59, I believe).  If you have any questions or strokes of insight, please post a comment below.

Here’s the “From the Board” on Things Fall Apart.  Remember, all homework for this session is due this Thursday the 18th.  I won’t accept anything after this.  We will be discussing chapters 4-6 tomorrow.