iop journals

Day one: I started by researching background information on Albert Camus. I discovered that Albert created many parallels between him and the character Mersault. Such as the fact that in some of Camus' work, he refers to himself as Mersault when addressing himself. Also, both of their mothers died when they were young. Camus also lived and grew up in Algiers, which is where Mersault lives and "The Stranger" takes place in. And finally, both of them grew up without a father figure in their lives, resulting in having their mothers raising them.

Day two: I researched the meanings of existentialism and absurdism in more depth. While researching, i remembered that Camus was often called an existentialist but he did not agree with that type. He viewed himself as an absurdist. An absurdist is someone who thinks that the efforts of humanity to find meaning in the universe will ultimatly fail. Resulting in the thought of the universe being absurd. This is shown in "The Stranger" when Mersault tries to find the meaning of what is happening to him until he gives up. He finds the search absurd and soon gives up.

Day three: I researched some of Camus' earlier work and essays. In these works, he did come off as an exestentialist and many of his friends were as well. In the earlier writings, he wrote about the French Resistance and how he supported many of thier actions. He openly disagreed with Hitler and wrote about that as well. Also in his early days, Camus joined the communist party and wrote many works about them. After one essay, Camus quit because he could not commit to the party. He was very torn between governments in his early days and that continued in his other work.

Day four: While trying to find an outside influence to compare to "The Stranger" so support my presentation, I happened upon the movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest." In the movie, I noticed parallels between the characters of McMurphy and Mersault. Such as, Mersault feels as though he cannot make sense out of the society around him, just like McMurphy and The Chief, who are also outsiders in their society. After Nurse Rachet refuses to let the men watch the baseball game on t.v., McMurphy accepts the aburdity of his present situation and in turn starts to reenact the baseball game himself and triumps over Nurse Ratchet. Such as when Mersault recognizes the absurdity of his imprisionment and is able to find contempment in his current situation.

Day five: I tried to finalize my rough dratfs and rewrite my speech. I tried to include many of the new information that I discovered such as the new development in Camus not agreeing with exestentialism and thinking as more of an absurdist. I also tried to work in the movie "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest" and apply it to "The Stranger" and Camus' life as well.