Week 10 Study Quesions

Albert Camus

We'll be watching a movie next Tuesday, but go ahead and do the readings in advance, so you can identify the themes from the readings in the movie. (For those who have been assigned study questions, you should prepare answers for Thursday's quesions, not Tuesday's.)

When you read Camus' novel The Stranger, compare the main character (Meursault) to Camus' description of the "absurd man" in Myth of Sisyphus. How is Meursault similar to, or different from, the absurd man?

Also think about the meaning of the title of the novel. In French, "stranger" also means foreigner or outsider. What makes Meursault an "outsider"? What is he "on the outside" of? Who is he a "stranger" to? What could he do to stop being a stranger?

Tuesday:

In preparation for the movie, think about the following questions:

1. If you knew that today is the last day of your life, what would common daily activities would you decide not to do today, that you would have done otherwise? Why not?

2. If you knew that the entire world would end tomorrow, would you consider doing anything that you would usually consider either immoral, illegal, or foolish? Would you loot, or steal, or harm others? Why or why not?

3. If the entire world were to end tomorrow, would you spend any of your final day helping others? Why or why not?

Thursday

1. If someone you knew reacted to a loved one's death the way that Meursault reacts to his mother's death, what would you think? Is his reaction inappropriate? Is their anything wrong with him or with his attitude towards others? Based on the reading from Myth of Sisyphus, how do you think Camus would answer these questions? (Keeping in mind that the Camus, as the author, may not always agree with the views or actions of his characters.)

2. Is it wrong for Meursault to write the letter for Raymond to his mistress, even though he knows Raymond wants to harm the girl? Is it wrong for him to act as a witness to the police for Raymond? Based on the reading from Myth of Sisyphus, what would Camus say?

3. Do you think Meursault is happy? Why or why not? Prior to the murder, he keeps saying that things aren't his fault, and thinks people are judging him. Apart from the murder, do you think he's guilty of anything? Why or why not?

4. What do you think of Nietzsche's question about the "eternal return"? Would you be happy if you had to live through every single event of your life, even the most miserable moments, an infinite number of times? Why or why not?