The Stranger - 10 Important Moments

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Eddie Madrid AP Literature 1) Create a working definition of existentialism, according to Camus’ novel. Existentialism is the realization that we are nothing more than pounds of flesh on a rock floating through space. The world and things we decide to do in it are absurd and have no rationality, and there is no higher power controlling it. Basically, there is nothing after this. 2) 10 Moments of Existentialism in “The Stranger” • “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know…Maybe it was yesterday.” Pg. 3 This is “existentialist” because of its view towards death. That it is nothing special, even if it is your mother. It is literally, just a death, and there’s nothing more after that. This quote gives the reader an instant look into how Mersault thinks. • “It had occurred to me that anyway one more Sunday was over…nothing had changed.” Pg. 24 This is “existentialist” because something absurd such as his mother’s death, he deals with almost immediately and moves on, as if it was nothing something big, and is just something that just “happens”. • “A minute later she asked me if I loved her. I told her it didn’t mean anything but that I didn’t think so.” Pg. 35 This is “existentialist” because of the indifference he has towards something as powerful as love in this relationship he has with Marie. He views it as no more than something just happening that he just so happens to be a part of. • “I said that people never change their lives, that in any case on life was as good as another and that I wasn’t dissatisfied with mine here at all.” Pg. 41 This is a VERY “existentialist” view on life in general. This is essentially a working definition of it and how the main character views life, that no matter what it wouldn’t make a difference and nothing would change no matter if he was alive in where he’s at or at Paris. • “The trigger gave; I felt
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