BNW Journal 1

"The enormous room on the ground floor faced towards the north. Cold for all the summer beyond the panes, for all the tropical heat of the room itself, a harsh thin light glared through the windows, hungrily seeking some draped lay figure, some pallid shape of academic goose-flesh, but finding only the glass and nickel and bleakly shining porcelain of a laboratory. Wintriness responded to wintriness. The overalls of the workers were white, their hands gloved with a pale corpse-coloured rubber. The light was frozen, dead, a ghost."

            “The enormous room on the ground floor faced towards the north”. The fact that this sentence states that a specific room that is located on the ground floor faces the north, questions the facing location of the other rooms within the building. By the room facing north it suggest the room is very important. Compasses always point towards the north, and compasses are used for direction, so the “enormous room […] faced towards the north” indicates that this room is pointing towards progression. This room is contains “tropical heat” and is “cold for all the summer beyond the panes”. The words “cold” and “summer” contradict each other due to its contrasting temperatures, but since the words are combined, it suggests an intense heat temperature within the room. This heat is emphasized through the “harsh thin light” that “glared through the windows”. The light “hungrily seeking some draped lay figure, some pallid shape of academic goose-flesh” suggest the importance of this progression, and the need to identify everyone and everything. Personification arises in a menacing fashion: “hungrily seeking” as though to emphasize this need of this progression by abolishing any unknown threats. “But finding only the glass and nickel and bleakly shining porcelain of a laboratory”. This quote introduces the reader to the main factor of the book, and allows the reader to imagine the appearance of the laboratory. A “wintriness” is something relating to winter, which adds onto: “the overalls of the workers were white”, this suggests that the workers embody either the appearance of winter, or the characteristics of winter. Winter can either be beautiful or deadly, the fact that “their hands gloved with a pale corpse-coloured rubber” concludes that these workers embody the harsh characteristics of winter with their “corpse” colored clothing. “The light was frozen, dead, a ghost”. This metaphor creates an eerie view on this laboratory.

Journal 5 Stranger

From my Group Project:
Part 1. Time
Within part 1, Meursault's perception of time proves important for precision. By stating that his boss "wasn't too happy" about Meursault missing a couple days of work for a funeral, considers a strict consistency in work arrivals. This attitude carries on as far as planning the amount of time dedicated towards Meursault's sleeping, as well: "I knew I was going to go to bed and sleep for twelve hours."(18) This implication towards a habitual lifestyle proves correct as Camus uses phrases such as, "as usual", and "nothing has changed". The habitual lifestyle carries on within the minor characters as well: "Twice a day, at eleven and six, the old man takes the dog out for a walk" (27). Meursault's behavior, although, implies a subtle rebellion towards this society-driven routines and guidelines. "But I hesitated, because I didn't know if I could do it with Maman right there. I thought about it; it didn't matter. I offered the caretaker a cigarette and we smoked"(8). These subtle rebellions also were highlighted by Meursault's slight isolation in society. This creates an individualism that brings out happiness within him. These subtle rebellions carry onto the development of the action that leads him into jail.

Part 2 Time
In part 2 of the book, instead of time being routine, it became something vulnerable for imagination. "I realized then that a man who had lived only one day could easily live for a hundred years in prison. He would have enough memories to keep him from being bored. In a way, it was an advantage"(79). This imagination contrasted against societies pre-planned lives for its' citizens, and with this sense of individualism, Meursault found his voice: "And for the first time in months, I distinctly heard the sound of my own voice"(81).

Part 1 Cigarrette
Meursault's craving for cigarrettes seems to appear frequently throughout the story. It seems to be, anytime he is put in a situation that would provoke anxiety, or sadness, he smokes.
Part 2 Cigarrette

In part 2, Meusaults need for a cigarrette seems to lessen as the chapters increase. "And one of them offered me a cigarette, which I turned down."(82) This change in behavior questions his state of being in the situation he is in. Most people would feel alot of anxiety being put in jail, but Meursaults response seems to counter that behavior.

Part 1: Raymond:
In part 1, Raymond came across as a distrustful man who uses women. The fact that he asks Meursault to write a letter to Raymond's mistress for him, provokes a sense of lying. And the fact that the letter's purpose was to lure the mistress back to Raymond so that he can degrade her allows the reader to believe he also uses women, and is easily angererd. "It's not that I'm a bad guy, but I have a short fuse."(29)

Part 2 Raymond:
In part 2, Raymonds character seems to change from an distrustful man, into a man who wants to see justice in Meursault's case. Raymond knows that the murder was not premeditated, and does not want to see Meursault convicted of this crime. He believes it was by "chance" the crime occured, and that Meursault is "innocent".

Group Project: Stranger

How does Meursault change from part I to part II? How does the style in part I and part II reflect those changes?
Yes how Camus uses time to show how meursault is more satisfied in part 2
Camus uses the contrasting perseptions of time in part 1 and part 2 to imply how Meursault is more satisified with  in part 2.

Within part 1, Meursault's perception of time proves important for precision. By stating that his boss "wasn't too happy" about Meursault missing a couple days of work for a funeral, considers a strict consistency in work arrivals. This attitude carries on as far as planning the amount of time dedicated towards Meursault's sleeping, as well: "I knew I was going to go to bed and sleep for twelve hours."(18) This implication towards a habitual lifestyle proves correct as Camus uses phrases such as, "as usual", and "nothing has changed". The habitual lifestyle carries on within the minor characters as well: "Twice a day, at eleven and six, the old man takes the dog out for a walk" (27). Meursault's behavior, although, implies a subtle rebellion towards this society-driven routines and guidelines. "But I hesitated, because I didn't know if I could do it with Maman right there. I thought about it; it didn't matter. I offered the caretaker a cigarette and we smoked"(8). These subtle rebellions also were highlighted by Meursault's slight isolation in society. This creates an individualism that brings out happiness within him. These subtle rebellions carry onto the development of the action that leads him into jail. In part 2 of the book, instead of time being routine, it became something vulnerable for imagination. "I realized then that a man who had lived only one day could easily live for a hundred years in prison. He would have enough memories to keep him from being bored. In a way, it was an advantage"(79). This imagination contrasted against societies pre-planned lives for its' citizens, and with this sense of individualism, Meursault found his voice: "And for the first time in months, I distinctly heard the sound of my own voice"(81).

Stranger Journal 4

How does Meursault change from part I to part II? How does the style in part I and part II reflect those changes?
1. The sensory details:

In the Part 1 of the book, Meursault relies on a visual aspect of society, and the people within it. "What struck me most about their faces was that I couldn't see their eyes, just a faint glimmer in a nest of wrinkles" (10).
Meursault's repitition of "eyes" and lack of other physical descriptions and sensations, highlights this aspect. "The scorching blade slashed at my eyelashes and stabbed at my stinging eyes"(59).
In part 2 of the book, Meursault's descriptions branched out in sensory detail. "As I imagined the sound of the first waves under my feet, my body entering the water and the sense of relief it would give me, all of a sudden I would feel just how closed in I was by the walls of the cells" (76).

2. Tempo of the context
 In part 1, the tempo of the context was fast. Many events would occur rapidly throughout the text, and sentences were short and precise. Some events would even occur randomly. In part 2, Camus takes time to decribe the setting, and emotions Meursault experiences, not only by slowing down the tempo, but also using details and longer sentences. By doing so, these experiences arrived without random breaks of thought.

3. Judgement
In part 1, the need for Meursault to justify himself repeatedly occured. "It wasn't my fault" This implies his fear of judgment. He worries about societies view on himself, and the judgment he believes people cast on him is pure assumption: "I had the ridiculous feeling that they were there to judge me" (10). In part 2 on the other hand, this feeling of justifying himself seems to diminish: "Still I didn't say anything" (68). "I had the ridiculous impression of being 'one in the family'" (70). Also, his fear of judgment changed drastically on the final page of the book before Meursault's death: 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"(123).

Stranger Discussion journal

Freud developed the belief that unconscioius psychological forces influenced human behavior.
Unconscious motivation:
A Freudian concept that regers to the influence of repressed thoughts, desires, or impulses on our conscious thoughts and behaviors.

Funeral:

1. Pg 10-11, He is watching the people from across the room, and can see the woman crying. But he himself does not cry, but it seems like he knows that there should be a sad essence, but cannot express it.
2. Pg 42, "Then she pointed out that marriage was a serious thing. I said 'no." The freudian concept states that repressed thoughts and behaviors mostly occur from childhood experiences. Meursault's view on marriage must have come from his mom's relationship status growing up. On page 13, the caretaker states that Perez and Madame Meursault were "fiances" which implies she was single when she was placed in the nursing home. His mother's relationship status growing up could have affected his views on relationships and marriages.
3. Racism: Meursaults growing racism was not expressed orally, but through his thoughts, and how he catagorized the Arab people. Meursault did not bluntly state that he was racist, but by the way he his thoughts called Arabs; "The Arabs" implies that his racism is pushed into his subconscious mind and repressed.
4. His blame on the sun for the killing of the Arab highlights Frued's theory. Meursault's blame of the sun symbilizes a subconsious thought, or feeling that he repressed. I believe that the sun in this case symbolizes his racism for the Arabs. His racism is repressed, but shown through his grouping of all the arabs as "The Arabs", rather than it being shown orally. He does not directly state his racism which implies that it is in his subconscious. This repressed racism is the cause to him killing the Arab, while the sun acts as a symbol for this repression.

French Occupation in Algiers:

Racist- "The Arabs"
Feel superior over other cultures
Created Violence between opposing sides- "I said I'd killed an Arab and they were all silent"(72)

Colonialism and French work ethic:

Definition: Colonialism is the extension of a nation's sovereignty over territory beyond its borders by the establishment of either settler colonies or administrative dependencies in which indigenous populations are directly ruled or displaced.
Superiority over other cultures
Racism- "The Arabs"

Journal 2 Stranger

Salamano and his dog:
"The two of them have been inseparable for eight years."(26)

• This quote seems contradictory in the sense that Salamano and his dog acts like they really dislike eachothers company. But while reading the text, and looking more closely to the quote itself, I came to realize that their relationship between them both is beneficiary. The dog needs Salamano for food, water, and shelter, while Salamano needs the dog for company.
• I belive that this beneficiary relationship will play as either a contrast, or a relation to another characher(s) relationship as well.

Raymond Sintes:

• "The word around the neighborhood is that he lives off women. But when you ask him what he does, he's a 'warehouse guard'". (28)
• The fact that this discription appears within a sentence of Raymond's appearance, seems questioning. The first reaction that comes to my mind, is a pimp who tries to keep his "occupation" on the down low. He is obviously talked about, and well known around his neighborhood, but by the line "he's not very popular," the knowledge of him is in a negative view.
• It's interesting how Raymond watches how Salamano treats his dog and comments, "If that isn't pityfull!" And yet, he treats his mistress the same way. Salamano beats his dog- Raymond beats his mistress. This act on the quote seems to act as irony.
• Raymond's scheme to degrade his mistress by using sex, proves that Raymond's view on sex is merely physical, and has no sense of emotion within it. This lack of emotional attatchment during sex relates to Meursalt's view on sex as well. They both view it on a physical level.
• The fact that Raymond is trying to have Meursalt write a letter towards his mistress for him, proves his character is a liar.

Stranger idea Journal

Chapter 1:
"Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don't know. I got a telegram from the home: 'Mother deceased. Funeral tomarrow. Faithfully yours.' That doesn't mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday"(3)

• First thoughts reading this is how un-emotion he seems towards his mothers death.

"I thought he was criticizing me for something and I started to explain. But he cut me off. 'You don't have to justify yourself, my dear boy. I've read your mother's file." (4)

• Forshadow to the court

"I even said, "It's not my fault." He didn't say anything. Then I thought I shouldn't have said that. After all, I didn't have anything to apologize for."(3)

• "It's not my fault" occurs repeatedly throughout the chapters. This feeling of the need to be defensive not only occurs in this quote, but also when he felt like the elders were at the funeral to "judge him"(10)
• Speaking of judging. The funeral is set up like a courtroom. By him feeling they are there to "judge" him, and this need to feel defensive, this forshadows the trial.
• Also when the nurse states, "If you go slowly, you risk getting sunstroke. But if you go too fast, you work up a sweat and then catch a chill inside the church." His reaction is "There is no way out" (17) which forshadows trial as well.

"Then I felt like having a smoke. But I hesitated, because I didn't know if I could do it with Maman right there. I thought about it; it didn't matter. I offered the caretaker a cigarette and we smoked". (8)

• This hesitation implies the knowledge that he knows what he is doing  And the feeling of the need to please is shown by this hesitation. But then he realizes "it didn't matter", and almost rebelled against that knowledge he has.
• "It doesn't matter", "I have no reason not to", "Why not?" These imply that he almost rebels against his knowlege, and believes his behavior doesn't make a difference whether or not he does it. There is no force holding him back.
• This is also shown when he was trying to get 2 days off of work and said, "But he wasn't too happy about it. I even said, 'It's not my fault." (3) This also shows the need to please due to the fact he realized his bosses unhappiness and tried to defend himself in order for the boss to be okay with him taking the days off.

"I ate at the restaurant, at Celeste's, as usual".(3)

• Implies he is very habitual

The fact that it seems as though the main character smokes and drinks coffee alot, contrasts against his behavior. Smoking and coffee are stimulents, but the fact that he "dozes off" alot contrast the effects the stimulents should have on him.

"Black" "White" "Red" "Yellow" "Dark" "Light"

• These colors are repeated throughout the text, and are frequently used in contrast. (17)
• The color red is used to highlight the look of the sky(12), the earth (15), and blood(17, 15, 18)

"Several other images from that day have stuck in my mind: for instance, Perez's face when he caught up with us for the last tim, just outside the village."

• Repetitions of faces occured alot during this chapter, especially with eyes. (5,6,10
• Also he notices physical features that reappear in text: "Big bellies" (10, 26)

"Seing the rows of cyprus trees leading up to the hills next to the sky, and the houses standing out here and there against that read and green earth, I was able to understand Maman better."(15)

Chapter 2:

"I wondered what I was going to do"

• Contrasts against the habitual ways he seemed to portray. And contrasts the idea that he plans things out before he actually preforms them.

"She gave alittle start but didn't say anything. I felt like telling her it wasn't my fault, but I stopped myself because I rememebered that I'd already said that to my boss. It didn't mean anything. besides, you always feel a little guilty." (20)

• This is a forshadow to the trial: feeling defensive, feeling like he is being judged by her not saying anything. "You always feel a little guilty"
• The fact that he remembers telling his boss the same exact thing indicates his knowledge of what he is doing.

His whole relationship towards Marie seems more physical in his point of view. He only identifies her emotions, but not his own, and only focuses on the physical features of Marie. (20)

On page 21, where Meursault eats his "eggs out of the pan without bread because I didn't have any left and I didn't feel like going downstairs to buy some".

• This makes the reader think that Meursault is lazy, but in contrast to this first thought he rearranges his apartment to make it feel the "right size", by doing so this contrasts his "laziness". By him rearranging his apartment implies he does these things to make things more convenient and efficient.

"I washed my hands" (21,25)

• Appeared a few times, keep an eye on this behavior.

"Window" (21-24)

• Boundary between him and the world.
• Windows are transparent- you can see through it, but it causes a boundary.
• This idea of something being clear is identified in "The sky was clear but dull"(24)

Chapter 3:

"I worked hard at the office today"(25)

• Indicates that need to please.

"Consider the matter closed"(25)

• Forshadow to trial

Chapter 4:

Salamano and his dog:
"The two of them have been inseparable for eight years."(26)

• This quote seems contradictory in the sense that Salamano and his dog acts like they really dislike eachothers company. But while reading the text, and looking more closely to the quote itself, I came to realize that their relationship between them both is beneficiary. The dog needs Salamano for food, water, and shelter, while Salamano needs the dog for company.
• I belive that this beneficiary relationship will play as either a contrast, or a relation to another characher(s) relationship as well.

Raymond Sintes:

• "The word around the neighborhood is that he lives off women. But when you ask him what he does, he's a 'warehouse guard'". (28)
• The fact that this discription appears within a sentence of Raymond's appearance, seems questioning. The first reaction that comes to my mind, is a pimp who tries to keep his "occupation" on the down low. He is obviously talked about, and well known around his neighborhood, but by the line "he's not very popular," the knowledge of him is in a negative view.
• It's interesting how Raymond watches how Salamano treats his dog and comments, "If that isn't pityfull!" And yet, he treats his mistress the same way. Salamano beats his dog- Raymond beats his mistress. This act on the quote seems to act as irony.
• Raymond's scheme to degrade his mistress by using sex, proves that Raymond's view on sex is merely physical, and has no sense of emotion within it. This lack of emotional attatchment during sex relates to Meursalt's view on sex as well. They both view it on a physical level.
• The fact that Raymond is trying to have Meursalt write a letter towards his mistress for him, proves his character is a liar.

Chapter 5:

• "Sunday"(40) Repeated. Look at the surrounding words: