Mersaults psychological detachment from the world follows him as he enters the prison system. Although he states that he will never enjoy speaking about this part of his life he also admits that (later) he sees no point in his reluctance.
He began to feel at home in his cell after Marie's visit, his life was at a stand still. However, during the visit he portrays a strong feeling o indifference to Marie's presence. In fact he hardly mentions her and the dialogue between them and instead focuses on every one else in the visitation room.
This just highlights Mersaults psychological state as he contradicts himself. First feeling rather annoyed by Marie's first and last visit but later realizing that her visit is what really made him feel as though he were in prison.
Friday, October 7, 2016
The Man in the Ring and the Exceptionally Existential Existentialist
After the play on Wednesday, a couple of people stayed back to talk with some of the actors (I being one of those people). Someone asked the actors if they felt the play was a complete was a complete dramatic action seeing that it began and ended with the same scene: the older Emile holding his shoe. Not only is this a very interesting plot choice, but it's also sysphinian, in a way. Even though his problems with the other boxer are resolved, nothing has really changed. His life is still the same afterwards, and his mind is in a downward spiral. The only thing he fixed was just a "system."
But for Camus I feel that the Man in the Ring is a warning for those who pay too much attention to what others want from them. Young Emile comes to the US to sing, make hats, and play baseball. Instead he goes into boxing because that's what brings home money. This makes him miserable. It is peer pressure which causes him to kill the other boxer. Maybe he would have been less miserable if he had lived the life Camus wanted him to live.
But for Camus I feel that the Man in the Ring is a warning for those who pay too much attention to what others want from them. Young Emile comes to the US to sing, make hats, and play baseball. Instead he goes into boxing because that's what brings home money. This makes him miserable. It is peer pressure which causes him to kill the other boxer. Maybe he would have been less miserable if he had lived the life Camus wanted him to live.
In This Corner
Emile Griffith was a welterweight and middleweight world champion boxer. However, his life was full of obstacles and hardships that he was forced to deal with as he aged. The play "The Man in The Ring" told Emile's story eloquently through the visions of his elderly self.
One thing that was amazing about the production was the two actors who played Emile. Not only were they in great shape, but they captivated the audience with their presence. Everybody there believed that men who have gone through what Emile has, would act and look like that. Not only that but they did a fantastic job of acting as the same character. Their performances blended together perfectly.
In the scene where it is revealed that Emile was sexually assaulted in his youth there was no a person could not have been on the edge of their seat. That performance was so emotional and well delivered that it left the crowd with goosebumps. "The Man in The Ring" is a phenomenal play about a black gay boxer who could never catch a break.
One thing that was amazing about the production was the two actors who played Emile. Not only were they in great shape, but they captivated the audience with their presence. Everybody there believed that men who have gone through what Emile has, would act and look like that. Not only that but they did a fantastic job of acting as the same character. Their performances blended together perfectly.
In the scene where it is revealed that Emile was sexually assaulted in his youth there was no a person could not have been on the edge of their seat. That performance was so emotional and well delivered that it left the crowd with goosebumps. "The Man in The Ring" is a phenomenal play about a black gay boxer who could never catch a break.
The Man in the Ring
My experience viewing the Man in the Ring was not at all what I was expecting it to be. When hearing that we'd be going on a class trip to see a play, I envisioned sitting in a large auditorium and watching a large cast act while sitting in seats far from the stage. When we arrived at the theater, I was pleasantly surprised to be sitting just a few feet from the stage. The small theater and small cast size helped in truly bringing the story to life. Being so close to the actors allowed me to see and understand their many different emotions throughout the play.
My favorite scenes in the play were when both of the Emilies' were on stage, representing present and past actions. These parts were very well done and were often the scenes with the most drama and excitement. The acting was amazing and being able to see the actors emotions made it more special and real. The Old-Emilie's perfomance was incredible. The actor's portrayal of his character and his mental state were on point and full of real despair and grief.
I also loved the music in the Man in the Ring. The raw voices of the actors blended together perfectly and the consistent sing-song tunes brought the play to a whole new level.
Overall I enjoyed The Man in the Ring for its interesting story line and uniqueness. The play was very well done and each and every actor delivered a wonderful performance.
My favorite scenes in the play were when both of the Emilies' were on stage, representing present and past actions. These parts were very well done and were often the scenes with the most drama and excitement. The acting was amazing and being able to see the actors emotions made it more special and real. The Old-Emilie's perfomance was incredible. The actor's portrayal of his character and his mental state were on point and full of real despair and grief.
I also loved the music in the Man in the Ring. The raw voices of the actors blended together perfectly and the consistent sing-song tunes brought the play to a whole new level.
Overall I enjoyed The Man in the Ring for its interesting story line and uniqueness. The play was very well done and each and every actor delivered a wonderful performance.
Meursault: A Good Existentialist
In part two, Meursault's apparent existentialism becomes clearer as his ability to remain apathetic at almost all times becomes more of a benefit than a reader-annoying trait. However, it appears that Meursault himself hasn't yet recognized his existentialism.
When the magistrate was threatening him with the silver crucifix the magistrate "said it was impossible; all men believed in God, even those who turn their backs on him. That was his belief and if he were ever to doubt it, his life would become meaningless" (69). This is obviously a belief of a existentialist but Meursault doesn't seem to realize the profundity of his thoughts and he goes on to say, to the magistrate, "As far as I could see, it didn't have anything to do with me" (69). Here I believe that if Meursault recognized his own existentialism, he would have commented on it more directly, possibly even to the magistrate himself.
But maybe if Meursault knew he was an existentialist and the term he wouldn't be so good at being an existentialist because if he acknowledged existentialism as a set of beliefs and values it would become, at least for him, another man made system. And although this system would be based on the disbelief in other systems, I feel it would still cover up the pain and suffering of life for Meursault.
If he acknowledged existentialism he would also be acknowledging a construct created by somebody else which would mean he wasn't living his own authentic life.
Meursault: Sad About Death or Attention?
As we first met Meursault, we knew he was an odd character who never divulged the reader inside the inner workings of his mind. Meursault is locked into a routine of daily existence, with no ideas, preferences, goals, or ambitions. During Part 2 of The Stranger, Meursault is now locked up and jail and truly lives his entire life by the prisoner routine. Throughout his time in jail, he does not seem to be bothered by being locked up besides having the "thoughts...of a free man."
Although Meursault got used to the jail routine, during the trial we are first introduced to Meursault's emotions. During his trial, Meursault has the urge to cry as he is stuck in the hot room surrounding by staring eyes of jury members. By the trial, Meursault come to understand that he is so vulnerable others that he cannot even create the meaning of his own life. In the past, Meursault has been able to coast on in life and lacking the motivation to examine his life as a whole. As the trail goes one, Meursault realizes that each person in the courtoom, the judge, prosecutor, and his defender are creating their own interpretation of his life, "My fate was being decided without anyone so much asking my opinion"(98). Meursault was frustrated because he had no say for his defense.
The trial forces Meursault to face his existence consiously because now he is finally being accounted for it. As he hears positive, negative, and neutral interpretations of his character, he recognizes that part of his being evades his control, because it exists only in the minds of others. All the witnesses discuss the same man, Meursault, but they offer differing interpretations of his character. In each testimony, meaning is constructed exclusively by the witness—Meursault has nothing to do with it.
Although Meursault got used to the jail routine, during the trial we are first introduced to Meursault's emotions. During his trial, Meursault has the urge to cry as he is stuck in the hot room surrounding by staring eyes of jury members. By the trial, Meursault come to understand that he is so vulnerable others that he cannot even create the meaning of his own life. In the past, Meursault has been able to coast on in life and lacking the motivation to examine his life as a whole. As the trail goes one, Meursault realizes that each person in the courtoom, the judge, prosecutor, and his defender are creating their own interpretation of his life, "My fate was being decided without anyone so much asking my opinion"(98). Meursault was frustrated because he had no say for his defense.
The trial forces Meursault to face his existence consiously because now he is finally being accounted for it. As he hears positive, negative, and neutral interpretations of his character, he recognizes that part of his being evades his control, because it exists only in the minds of others. All the witnesses discuss the same man, Meursault, but they offer differing interpretations of his character. In each testimony, meaning is constructed exclusively by the witness—Meursault has nothing to do with it.
Justice is a Funny Thing
Chapter Four of Part Two ends by saying, "But the presiding judge asked me if I had anything to say. I thought about it. I said 'No.' That's when they took me away" (107).
After months, the court finally made a decision on Meursault's case and Meursault is found guilty of killing the Arab. The death penalty might seem a big extreme but in that time period it was perfectly normal to sentence someone to death for comitting a murder. It is obvious that Meursault killed the Arab but did he kill him intentionally? Was it really murder? I guess one could argue that Meursault did mean to kill the Arab because Meursault shot him 5 times and I admit that's valid reasoning but I don't think it's enough.
When examining the way the court declares Meursault guilty, it's obvious that neither side is concerned with the truth. Both sides make up their own interpretation of what happened. The prosecutor argues that Meursault planned to kill the Arab because he has a "criminal soul" while Meursault's defense lawyer uses first person to recreate an event in which he knew nothing about. Meursault himself felt like an object, he states "In a way, they seemed to be arguing the case as if it had nothing to do with me. Everything was happening without my interpretation. My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking for my opinion" (page 98).
Meursault himself does not know why he killed the Arab. When asked why he committed the murder, Meursault blurted out "because of the sun" (103). Although the people in the court room could have interpreted that as a lie, Meursault did not have a motive for killing the Arab. He simply pullled the trigger.
So with that, there are new questions that arise: How do you punish a man who doesn't know why he killed someone? And, is it okay to punish someone because they have a cold soul? But the most concerning question would be, was justice served?
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Loss of Love
"I probably did love Maman, but that didn't mean anything. At one time or another all normal people have wished their loved ones were dead," (page 65).
"Without working up to it, he asked if I loved Maman. I said, 'Yes, the same as anyone,'" (page 67).
From the very beginning of "The Stranger", Meursault has always been a distant character. At Maman's funeral he denied the opportunity to have the coffin unsealed and even admitted that he was too tired to even pay attention to the service. This distance he created from his Maman not only catches my eye but also the magistrate's. During Meursault's interview alone with the magistrate, the magistrate harshly questions if Meursault even loved his mother and even questioned Meursault's faith. Meursault simply states that he loves his mother like anyone else would and that he does not believe in God.
This lack of emotions for his mother amplifies that maybe Meursault truly cannot or does not want to feel love. I personally believe that Meursault does not want to feel love. In part one whenever Meursault is with Marie and she asks if he loves her, he simply says he does not think so. At a first glance it may be easy to see that Meursault can not love but when Marie and Meursault are in the kitchen together, Marie laughs and Meursault randomly kisses her. I see this random kiss as an act of love. Meursault would not randomly kiss Marie for laughing if he did not love her. I believe that Meursault's denial of being in love with Marie is also a reflection on his love for his mother. Maybe Meursault rejects the idea of love because he cannot truly understand his own emotions.
"Without working up to it, he asked if I loved Maman. I said, 'Yes, the same as anyone,'" (page 67).
From the very beginning of "The Stranger", Meursault has always been a distant character. At Maman's funeral he denied the opportunity to have the coffin unsealed and even admitted that he was too tired to even pay attention to the service. This distance he created from his Maman not only catches my eye but also the magistrate's. During Meursault's interview alone with the magistrate, the magistrate harshly questions if Meursault even loved his mother and even questioned Meursault's faith. Meursault simply states that he loves his mother like anyone else would and that he does not believe in God.
This lack of emotions for his mother amplifies that maybe Meursault truly cannot or does not want to feel love. I personally believe that Meursault does not want to feel love. In part one whenever Meursault is with Marie and she asks if he loves her, he simply says he does not think so. At a first glance it may be easy to see that Meursault can not love but when Marie and Meursault are in the kitchen together, Marie laughs and Meursault randomly kisses her. I see this random kiss as an act of love. Meursault would not randomly kiss Marie for laughing if he did not love her. I believe that Meursault's denial of being in love with Marie is also a reflection on his love for his mother. Maybe Meursault rejects the idea of love because he cannot truly understand his own emotions.
Lack of Ambition
Thus far in the novel The Stranger by Albert Camus, Camus has done a magnificent job of portraying Meursault as an extremely indifferent character. Furthermore, this portrayal of Meursault has been effective through only showing rather than telling. One instance of this "showing" that I found particularly striking occurred on page 41.
After his boss offers him a promotion and an opportunity to move to Paris, the passage reads,"I said yes but really it was all the same to me. Then he asked me if I wasn't interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn't dissatisfied with mine here at all. He looked upset and told me that I never gave him a straight answer, that I had no ambition, and that that was disastrous in business".
I found this passage very interesting because it shows Meursault's utter lack of ambition or desire for change, he was offered the chance of a lifetime but he turned it down because he was satisfied with where he was at the time. Meursault felt completely indifferent to the opportunity to change his life forever, for the better even. I think this passage exemplifies Meursault's indifference perfectly.
After his boss offers him a promotion and an opportunity to move to Paris, the passage reads,"I said yes but really it was all the same to me. Then he asked me if I wasn't interested in a change of life. I said that people never change their lives, that in any case one life was as good as another and that I wasn't dissatisfied with mine here at all. He looked upset and told me that I never gave him a straight answer, that I had no ambition, and that that was disastrous in business".
I found this passage very interesting because it shows Meursault's utter lack of ambition or desire for change, he was offered the chance of a lifetime but he turned it down because he was satisfied with where he was at the time. Meursault felt completely indifferent to the opportunity to change his life forever, for the better even. I think this passage exemplifies Meursault's indifference perfectly.
Male Roles
The Man in the Ring was a fantastic play which brought out the inner emotion of Emile, the main character. The cast was very small in the play which allowed for actors to be several characters. This ability to have multiple characters for one actor was very interesting. Even though the play focused on Emile and the struggles he faced throughout his lifetime through the older and younger actors, I think the actor who played the caregiver and lover of Emile was very important.
In the play, the characters of both the caregiver and lover of Emile were played by the same actor. I think that the creator of the play did a fantastic job of incorporating these two predominantly female roles into the play. Separate, the two roles are still fascinating. We have a caretaker who is a male, assisting Emile in his older age. In Emile's younger stage of life, we have a relationship which was not widely accepted when Emile was alive. When the two are put together and being played by the same actor, it is a bold and rewarding combination. I think that this actor playing both roles flips the stereotype of gender roles. It is not very often that a male is put into a "female" role. I think it was a very thoughtful decision to place these two roles in the play, that we played by the same actor. In my opinion, seeing the transition from female role to female role was very powerful and brought the play an extra subtle sparkle.
In the play, the characters of both the caregiver and lover of Emile were played by the same actor. I think that the creator of the play did a fantastic job of incorporating these two predominantly female roles into the play. Separate, the two roles are still fascinating. We have a caretaker who is a male, assisting Emile in his older age. In Emile's younger stage of life, we have a relationship which was not widely accepted when Emile was alive. When the two are put together and being played by the same actor, it is a bold and rewarding combination. I think that this actor playing both roles flips the stereotype of gender roles. It is not very often that a male is put into a "female" role. I think it was a very thoughtful decision to place these two roles in the play, that we played by the same actor. In my opinion, seeing the transition from female role to female role was very powerful and brought the play an extra subtle sparkle.
Mother and Son
The man and the ring gave an interesting view of mother son. We see the main character loves his mother with all his heart and has come back after many years. Than he is basically forced to something he never wanted to do in the first place by his mom not for his benefit but for her own. It's not until his final altercation with his mom that not just him but she realizes that what she did was wrong and doesn't even seem to care much when he leaves after telling her off. This gives us a great perspective between a mother who uses her son to benefit her life and not his.
Essence of Life in The Stranger?
"Mostly, I could tell, I made him feel uncomfortable. He didn't understand me, and he was sort of holding it against me, I felt the urge to reassure him that I was like everybody else, just like everybody else."
This quote was after Meursault's fist encounter with his lawyer and it is very interesting how he sees himself and than compares himself to others. He says "I was like everybody else, just like everybody else" and it is only true to an extent. Of course he is a physical human being with an existence but mentally hes completely different. All around him he reacts differently to everything than a "normal person in his world would. He is disconnected he does't care about relationships, family, and ambition. He says it doesn't matter and maybe its true. Maybe he recognizes the essence of life and the systems all around him are just an illusion. That is why he doesn't care about relationships, specifically Marie getting married or Raymond being pals, it is just a system. How he acts disturbs people who have meaning to their live. For example, Meursault's boss is angry because he does not have ambition, Marie is upset with Meursault for not caring about marriage, the lawyer is disgusted form his response of his emotions the day of his mothers death, and the magistrate becoming angry because of Meursault athesim. All these people have a meaning to their life that their society has shaped and the odd unemotional responses the Meursault gives upsets them. I'm not sure if this makes sense but do you agree? Going back to the quote we clearly see that Meursault isn't like anyone we probably have ever encountered and his mindset of himself being the same as everybody else shows that, again he is not aware of his connections that he has with his surrounding. Not aware that people do care about things, systems.
This quote was after Meursault's fist encounter with his lawyer and it is very interesting how he sees himself and than compares himself to others. He says "I was like everybody else, just like everybody else" and it is only true to an extent. Of course he is a physical human being with an existence but mentally hes completely different. All around him he reacts differently to everything than a "normal person in his world would. He is disconnected he does't care about relationships, family, and ambition. He says it doesn't matter and maybe its true. Maybe he recognizes the essence of life and the systems all around him are just an illusion. That is why he doesn't care about relationships, specifically Marie getting married or Raymond being pals, it is just a system. How he acts disturbs people who have meaning to their live. For example, Meursault's boss is angry because he does not have ambition, Marie is upset with Meursault for not caring about marriage, the lawyer is disgusted form his response of his emotions the day of his mothers death, and the magistrate becoming angry because of Meursault athesim. All these people have a meaning to their life that their society has shaped and the odd unemotional responses the Meursault gives upsets them. I'm not sure if this makes sense but do you agree? Going back to the quote we clearly see that Meursault isn't like anyone we probably have ever encountered and his mindset of himself being the same as everybody else shows that, again he is not aware of his connections that he has with his surrounding. Not aware that people do care about things, systems.
My Friend, Monsieur Antichrist
The later half of The Stranger humanizes Monsieur Meursault while simultaneously increasing the apparent divide between Meursault his emotions. This juxtaposition of two conflicting characterizations of Meursault made me change my mind about the morality and "goodness" of our protagonist many times throughout the second part of The Stranger. Although I do no believe that the murder of the Arab man was premeditated on the part of Meursault, I am not sure whether or not his lack of remorse is a sign of evil.
On the more optimistic hand, the vivid description of Monsieur Meursault's transportation back to jail after the trial made me believe that I had looked at Meursault's internal dialogue the wrong way. His description of the "familiar sounds of a town I loved and of a certain time of day when I used to feel happy," made me think that I had misjudged Meursault, and that he was in fact a man capable of love (97). This analysis that emphasizes emotions was bolstered by the fact that Monsieur Meursault was "taken aback" by his lawyer talking for him, pretending to speak as him (102). In this more optimistic view, Meursault simply has the ability to analyze his situation sans emotions, a skill which distances himself from traditional morality but does not sever the connection.
However, the latter half of the book also brought about the examination of Monsieur Meursault's soul and some compelling arguments on the side of the prosecution. The details laid out by the prosecution, including the fact that Meursault did not know how old his mother was, and that he seemed to have moved on from her death at an alarmingly quick pace swayed me. They moved me onto the side of believing that the disconnect between Meursault and the world around him, a world that operates based on principles of morality, was dangerous at best. In these passages of the book, I concurred with the judge's assertion, that Monsieur Meursault's true name is "Monsieur Antichrist " (71).
However, I cannot reconcile the two characterizations at this time, and I am left with the oxymoron that Monsieur Meursault is a friendly Antichrist.
Working to Move the World Forward
As we discussed the many so called ¨systems¨ that hide the truth and limit us all I could think about was one thing. Progress. Human growth is exponential and that goes for everything from population to science and technology. This assertion has been proven in P.W. Singer´s book wired for war in which he demonstrates that in the past 100 years that humans learned more than all time in our history up until that point. Additionally if these systems are real and viable forces in our lives that really keep us from being free why do people bother to make and create things that make life an even greater or prolonged expedience. From an artificial heart to Dega´s Blue Dances many things have been created to eliminate suffering on all levels and as we move into the future I don´t expect that trend to change. So all this raises the question are these systems really systems at all or rather just ways or measuring not all the bad in the world but the good instead.
Meaning to Life? Mersault's Little World.
At first glance Mersault is an unique, depressed, almost cruel character. He seems so ready to distance himself from all and any relationships, while purging himself of all feelings of longing and attachment. So we (I myself as i too am guilty of this) dismissed him, confined him to a box. Four walls where we put the all characters that are to cold or miserable for our "rose tinted" tastes. However, after a enlightening discussion during class it became clear that maybe we judged this man too fast and too harshly. That maybe we need to look through his world with a different lenses, one that is not as "rose tinted". And to try to understand that his distancing from family, friends, love, attention, or achievement, is his freedom of bonds and material meaningless. Mersault understands the undeniable truth about our universe, that what people hold onto most to keep them sane is actually insane. That the "distant light" most people strive for isn't there, it in itself is a false hope created by an establishment that has passed down laws of conformity for millennia. Mersault gets this, and as most people reading this book judge this man on his distancing, self induced depression, lack of compass, or compassion. They actual misunderstand, Mersault, he is not depressed or lost, hes actually pleasantly happy and at peace, just going along with the flow of life not getting caught up in meaningless attachment, or getting lost in things long passed.
At first glance Mersault is an unique, depressed, almost cruel character. He seems so ready to distance himself from all and any relationships, while purging himself of all feelings of longing and attachment. So we (I myself as i too am guilty of this) dismissed him, confined him to a box. Four walls where we put the all characters that are to cold or miserable for our "rose tinted" tastes. However, after a enlightening discussion during class it became clear that maybe we judged this man too fast and too harshly. That maybe we need to look through his world with a different lenses, one that is not as "rose tinted". And to try to understand that his distancing from family, friends, love, attention, or achievement, is his freedom of bonds and material meaningless. Mersault understands the undeniable truth about our universe, that what people hold onto most to keep them sane is actually insane. That the "distant light" most people strive for isn't there, it in itself is a false hope created by an establishment that has passed down laws of conformity for millennia. Mersault gets this, and as most people reading this book judge this man on his distancing, self induced depression, lack of compass, or compassion. They actual misunderstand, Mersault, he is not depressed or lost, hes actually pleasantly happy and at peace, just going along with the flow of life not getting caught up in meaningless attachment, or getting lost in things long passed.
Standing on the Edge of a Cliff
"Then I remembered what the nurse at Maman's funeral said. No, there was no way out, and no one can imagine what nights in prison are like" (81).
Throughout The Stranger, Meursault constantly reiterates the idea of being suspended between two motions, actions, or states of being, offering what seems like an ultimatum. This is first seen at Maman's funeral, when the Nurse notes that whatever course of action you take, the sun will take its toll on you. This idea of suspended being is again seen shortly before Meursault shoots the Arab on the beach. He says to himself, "It was then that I realized that you could either shoot or not shoot" (56). Again, in prison, Mersualt invokes this idea of being stuck or suspended.
These moments, first and foremost, demonstrate times during which Meursault is acutely aware of the absurdity of life, that is, fixed positions and facts of the world that render many things meaningless. However, there is also another important process that occurs in these moments. This is essentially a transcendence that works to go beyond these fixed positions and facts. This awareness and then movement beyond these facts leads to a complete freedom for ourselves, something that is indeterminate. What governs Meursault in these moments is a sharp consciousness, or and idea about how he is able to conceive the world.
Imagine standing on the edge of a towering cliff with the ocean below. You have, on one hand, and urge to take one more step and see just a little farther. On the other hand, however, you have a fear that pushes you back. In this moment, you are in anguish, you are stuck just like Meursault. However, you should take full responsibility and assert your consciousness in order to peer over the edge to see what is on the other side.
Throughout The Stranger, Meursault constantly reiterates the idea of being suspended between two motions, actions, or states of being, offering what seems like an ultimatum. This is first seen at Maman's funeral, when the Nurse notes that whatever course of action you take, the sun will take its toll on you. This idea of suspended being is again seen shortly before Meursault shoots the Arab on the beach. He says to himself, "It was then that I realized that you could either shoot or not shoot" (56). Again, in prison, Mersualt invokes this idea of being stuck or suspended.
These moments, first and foremost, demonstrate times during which Meursault is acutely aware of the absurdity of life, that is, fixed positions and facts of the world that render many things meaningless. However, there is also another important process that occurs in these moments. This is essentially a transcendence that works to go beyond these fixed positions and facts. This awareness and then movement beyond these facts leads to a complete freedom for ourselves, something that is indeterminate. What governs Meursault in these moments is a sharp consciousness, or and idea about how he is able to conceive the world.
Imagine standing on the edge of a towering cliff with the ocean below. You have, on one hand, and urge to take one more step and see just a little farther. On the other hand, however, you have a fear that pushes you back. In this moment, you are in anguish, you are stuck just like Meursault. However, you should take full responsibility and assert your consciousness in order to peer over the edge to see what is on the other side.
The Man in the Ring was a knockout
The Man in the Ring was an amazing production. I was blown away.
Sitting in the front row I honestly felt like I was there with Emile through his entire journey.
The entire show had me feeling very emotional and being so close to the actors I felt such a connection with the story. The transformation of Emile was so heartbreaking. One of the last scenes, was for me a very emotional and good way to conclude the show.
Benny's son meets up with Emile and Louis, and Emile thinks its Benny. He quickly apologizes and asks for forgiveness, pleading letting 'Benny' know he never meant to hurt him. After a while Benny's son says he has no hard feelings, and Emile feels so happy. He wants to tell 'Benny' about his life, but he cannot remember much else, without the help of Louis. To me shows how much Benny's death impacted Emile's life, that even though his memory was shot, he was forever haunted by killing Benny.
This scene along with so many others made this a well produced show. This play covers so many big ' hard to talk about' topics but digs deep and shoves it in your face. It addresses sexuality, race and class divisions, and addresses each individually but demonstrate how these big life obstacles can unify and cause lots of distress.
I can go on for pages about this production, I would see it again!
Very thankful for the opportunity to have seen this play.
Sitting in the front row I honestly felt like I was there with Emile through his entire journey.
The entire show had me feeling very emotional and being so close to the actors I felt such a connection with the story. The transformation of Emile was so heartbreaking. One of the last scenes, was for me a very emotional and good way to conclude the show.
Benny's son meets up with Emile and Louis, and Emile thinks its Benny. He quickly apologizes and asks for forgiveness, pleading letting 'Benny' know he never meant to hurt him. After a while Benny's son says he has no hard feelings, and Emile feels so happy. He wants to tell 'Benny' about his life, but he cannot remember much else, without the help of Louis. To me shows how much Benny's death impacted Emile's life, that even though his memory was shot, he was forever haunted by killing Benny.
This scene along with so many others made this a well produced show. This play covers so many big ' hard to talk about' topics but digs deep and shoves it in your face. It addresses sexuality, race and class divisions, and addresses each individually but demonstrate how these big life obstacles can unify and cause lots of distress.
I can go on for pages about this production, I would see it again!
Very thankful for the opportunity to have seen this play.
Emotionless or Content?
In The Stranger part 2 chapters 1-4, Meursault begins his acclimation to prison life. He finds that although he is no longer happy like he used to be when he was free, he became used to being in prison. Once his trial begins, Meursault does not feel anything special towards his fiancee. Rather, he focuses on the idea of a woman and the purpose of one (to serve his base human needs). He is questioned about his reaction or his non-reaction to his mother's death and how he didn't cry once. I feel that this part of the chapter (89-90) shows that there may be something peculiar going on with his mind. This is further exemplified when Meursault tries to explain why he shot the Arab at the beach and says it was because of the sun. Meursault does not seem to have emotions that are significant other than the times where he feels too hot or in the sun. However, Meursault (in the last few pages of chapter 3) relates to a time when he felt happiness and contentment. Before part 2 (when he was not in prison), he had no real human connections or anything other than acquaintances in his life. He felt happy in his job, his living environment made him happy, and he did not form meaningful human connections. Meursault drew himself above human love and morals and pain to become free to be his true self and to be content with his life.
When You Assume, You Make an Ass Out of "U" or "ME"!
As we get
deeper into The Strange, we have a clearer view of Meursault. His lack of
emotions leaves his life meaningless and void. As humans we try to bring
meaning into our life through, stories, and emotions, so that they fit into our
own perspective and match the way we want our lives to be. Unfortunately this
happens to Meursault in his court case. Meursault has no opinion of his
life, but others do, and they force their own interpretations onto Meursault.
There’s a
connection between that scene in the Stranger, and the play, “The Man in the Ring.
“The main character, Emile Griffin, and the guy he hooks up with from the bar,
are confronted in the alley by several men. The men have weapons and are call
Emile and his buddy names such as,”fag” and “nigger,” and then batter Emile
till unconsciousness. There is a connection between this scene and the court
scene from the strangers because both people, who have no connection with the
main characters, are trying to identify the character with words they don’t self-identify
with. The men are trying to push their own perspective of Emile into himself,
just as the lawyers and the judge where pushing their perspective into Meursault.
Just thought I’d point out that connection.
Do You Care That You Are Alive?
Do you care that you are alive? The question is a strange on. It's not asking if you want to die, but rather is living really important to you? If you were told you were to die tomorrow (by a reputable source whose predictions always came true) what would you do in your last day? Would you go on living as you always do or try do do all the things you wanted to in your life? Or do something else?
I personally would probably just go on as I always do. Maybe this is because of how I see life and death. I consider death natural, something that happens that humans, and all living organisms (even the nonliving ones [like the planet]) have no control over. Everything "dies".
The question, if you think about it hard enough, also asks how do you define to be alive? Is being alive finishing your bucket list? Hanging out with your friends? Completing your goal(s)? Or something of many number of definition that people come up with to the question: What is it to be alive?
Maybe being alive is the absents of death.
But if you define live as the absence of death than isn't death just the absence of life. "There in lies the rum..." for now one has to think what is life aside from death which breaks apart the circular definition.
The definition of life as not death doesn't account for creatures and beings without what could everyday be thought of as "life". Since a rock doesn't think, move, eat, excrete, or do a number of other things that "living creatures" do does that mean it is inherently dead? Or a tree, trees eat and excrete but as far as we know they do not move (on there own) or think. Are they then forever in a state of partially alive?
I think of life as a accumulation of all the trials one has gone through, not their resolutions. In my mind everything is alive because it is constantly going through "trials". Everything is constantly moving, changing. That in my mind is "life".
Take the rock, for example. A rock that sits on a beach and is washed over by the waves daily has a startling different experience then the rock up the beach that my only be touched by the water during a flood. Therefore in my mind each rock has a unique life. A unique set of experiences that lead to the rocks having their own unique outlook (appearance, or thought on life).
But does that rock care that it is alive? A rock constantly washed over by waves slowly turns smooth and then becomes smaller and smaller until it itself is dust and sand that experiences its own trials until it itself changes forms once again.
But does it care that it is alive? I would say no because the rock understands that even though it doesn't exist in the same form as before it is still changing and having experiences.
Human life and death, are similar. Even though once a human dies they are cut off from their previous life, they still experience the world around them. The body decays turning into particles that feed plants, which feed animals, which then rejoin with the earth. Therefore nothing technically leave us, and everything is apart of everything else. Leading me to believe that there is no death in the biblical sense but rather a continuous "immortal" life as our "being" changes physical form. Everything lives forever.
I know many of the people reading this are asking: What about your spirit, soul, etc? My only answer it that believe what you believe.
If you believe a spirit exists then where does it go after losing its human form? In the model I have written about the spirit itself changes with the body. The two are indistinguishable once a body starts to decay the spirit breaks and divides into each particle and continues on its journey. If you believe the spirit is separated from the body then maybe it goes through its own cycle of life. Either way I don't know. A soul/spirit etc. is a concept that I could write long about and still never get an answer to.
Thank you for listening to my rambling,
N.S.
On a side note: I have just created a system. A way of thinking that pulls at an others mind but is created by synthesizing the systems of others. Humans, maybe all creatures, cannot escape systems. With every word of mouth, every action, every instinct, a reaction is formed, everything synthesizes their experiences to figure out how to deal with another experience. Therefore the only way to truly not be effected by systems is to cease to exist, but since I don't think anything ever ceases to exist then everything is always part of the systems. It is not a sad conclusion, saying that we are never "free", nor is it a happy conclusion, it is neutral. Looking at it and thinking about it for a long time were how I came to this conclusion. What ever "it" may be.
I personally would probably just go on as I always do. Maybe this is because of how I see life and death. I consider death natural, something that happens that humans, and all living organisms (even the nonliving ones [like the planet]) have no control over. Everything "dies".
The question, if you think about it hard enough, also asks how do you define to be alive? Is being alive finishing your bucket list? Hanging out with your friends? Completing your goal(s)? Or something of many number of definition that people come up with to the question: What is it to be alive?
Maybe being alive is the absents of death.
But if you define live as the absence of death than isn't death just the absence of life. "There in lies the rum..." for now one has to think what is life aside from death which breaks apart the circular definition.
The definition of life as not death doesn't account for creatures and beings without what could everyday be thought of as "life". Since a rock doesn't think, move, eat, excrete, or do a number of other things that "living creatures" do does that mean it is inherently dead? Or a tree, trees eat and excrete but as far as we know they do not move (on there own) or think. Are they then forever in a state of partially alive?
I think of life as a accumulation of all the trials one has gone through, not their resolutions. In my mind everything is alive because it is constantly going through "trials". Everything is constantly moving, changing. That in my mind is "life".
Take the rock, for example. A rock that sits on a beach and is washed over by the waves daily has a startling different experience then the rock up the beach that my only be touched by the water during a flood. Therefore in my mind each rock has a unique life. A unique set of experiences that lead to the rocks having their own unique outlook (appearance, or thought on life).
But does that rock care that it is alive? A rock constantly washed over by waves slowly turns smooth and then becomes smaller and smaller until it itself is dust and sand that experiences its own trials until it itself changes forms once again.
But does it care that it is alive? I would say no because the rock understands that even though it doesn't exist in the same form as before it is still changing and having experiences.
Human life and death, are similar. Even though once a human dies they are cut off from their previous life, they still experience the world around them. The body decays turning into particles that feed plants, which feed animals, which then rejoin with the earth. Therefore nothing technically leave us, and everything is apart of everything else. Leading me to believe that there is no death in the biblical sense but rather a continuous "immortal" life as our "being" changes physical form. Everything lives forever.
I know many of the people reading this are asking: What about your spirit, soul, etc? My only answer it that believe what you believe.
If you believe a spirit exists then where does it go after losing its human form? In the model I have written about the spirit itself changes with the body. The two are indistinguishable once a body starts to decay the spirit breaks and divides into each particle and continues on its journey. If you believe the spirit is separated from the body then maybe it goes through its own cycle of life. Either way I don't know. A soul/spirit etc. is a concept that I could write long about and still never get an answer to.
Thank you for listening to my rambling,
N.S.
On a side note: I have just created a system. A way of thinking that pulls at an others mind but is created by synthesizing the systems of others. Humans, maybe all creatures, cannot escape systems. With every word of mouth, every action, every instinct, a reaction is formed, everything synthesizes their experiences to figure out how to deal with another experience. Therefore the only way to truly not be effected by systems is to cease to exist, but since I don't think anything ever ceases to exist then everything is always part of the systems. It is not a sad conclusion, saying that we are never "free", nor is it a happy conclusion, it is neutral. Looking at it and thinking about it for a long time were how I came to this conclusion. What ever "it" may be.
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