Sunday, October 2, 2016

Mans Best Friend?

"They look as if they belong to the same species, and yet they hate each other.  Twice a day, at eleven and six, the old man takes the dog out for walk.  They haven't changed their route in 8 years.  You can see them in the rue de Lyon, the dog pulling the man along until old Salamono stumbles.  Then he beats the dog and swears at it.  The dog cowers and trails behind.  Then it's the old man who pulls the dog.  Once the dog has forgotten, it starts dragging its master along again, and again gets beaten and sworn at.  Then they bot stand there on the sidewalk and stare at each other, the dog in terror, the man in hatred.  It's the same thing every day." (The Stranger, Albert Camus, Pg. 27)


This particular section in our reading caught my attention because of the detail and peculiar cycle Salamano and his dog share.  Their violent walks make me wonder why they have put up with each other for so long.  Why hasn't the dog run away?  Why hasn't Salamano gotten rid of it?  I think it's interesting how no matter how much the two loathe each other, they still put up with each other daily.

1 comment:

  1. This also stuck out to me. It reminds me of an old married couple that doesn't have fun together but doesn't split up.

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