Second Paragraph

Meurault’s lack of emotion over the death of his mother and, eventually, his own death, may seem unimaginable; however, the reader can also perceive his actions as noble- as he does not act in a certain way solely dependent on how others might perceive him. “Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. I got a telegram from the home: “Mother deceased. Funeral tomorrow. Faithfully yours.” That doesn’t mean anything. Maybe it was yesterday.” (1) A seemingly trivial detail, the date that Maman died is Meursault’s chief concern. The indifferent way in which Meursault describes his mother’s death proves not only a disconnect to his family, but also to the outside world. Ultimately this peculiarity leads to his demise in court. “As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, 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.” Meursault describes the world as being indifferent and then compares it to himself: which makes Meursault unemotional to life and death as well. The reader sees this when Meursault wishes for there to be more hateful words at his execution, a very different perspective than the scared and somber feelings one would most likely feel. Meursault’s indifference towards death may seem inconsistent with a more “normal” point of view; however, he simply does not feel remorseful and instead of putting on a façade, he speaks of his true feelings- or lack thereof.

Essay Paragraph: Is Honesty the Best Policy?

In Albert Camus’ novel “The Stranger,” Meursault portrays the oblivious outsider who sees the world differently than the majority of people. With a mind uncluttered by false words or unnecessary information, he relies more on his own senses to more clearly absorb his surroundings. Meursault has very unpredictable and peculiar feelings towards his mother’s death and his new love. In tragedy as well as happiness, Meursalt speaks his mind with relentless honesty, proving himself to be different than the rest of the characters in the novel. Although Meursalt is perceived as “strange” due to the simplistic way in which he sees the outside world; Meursault, in actuality, has the most pure and untainted view of the universe because of the absence of lies and tricks in his observances and actions.

 

The "Strange" Stranger

Meursault’s view towards his own life seems very indifferent. He uses his senses to simplify his own experiences and the way he describes them is made very fundamental- almost childlike. The way he lives his life is very instinctual and not made complex by ulterior motives and lies. However “strange” by definition, Meursault is honest and forthcoming with his intentions at all times and sees the world in a very different way than most others.

“The way people behave, the paradoxes, the contradictions, all these things we have to live with and still pretend that everything is only black or white. That, I think, is the most interesting thing in human nature. The fact that we have to do one thing and pretend something else. That’s when it becomes very interesting. If you can literally speak the way you feel, then it’s not interesting anymore. It’s when you have to lie that it becomes interesting.” - Vincent Cassel

Safe Sex by Donald Hall

In Donald Hall's poem "Safe Sex," two lovers portray a relationship without love, and therefore they dodge the negative results that love brings. Hall uses words such as "frenzy," "betrayals," and "humiliation" in order to verify that a loveless relationship is safe. The last line, however, describes real love as being a matter of life and death. Hall describes a loveless relationship as lifeless, because in life there are ups and downs and there are bound to be some disappointments, but also great rewards in returns.

Sex and the City Quote: "I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love." -Carrie Bradshaw

Blogs to follow

I'm a very visual person, so I enjoy blogs with a lot of visual content such as photography and videos. One of my favorite blogs is by a man named Christopher Jacobson and it has to do with Art and Design around the world. There is a post around two times a week and each has either a photo or video and a description explaining each event. I really like the posts because they're interesting and short. It is called Colossal. (www.thisiscolossal.com)

I also follow a blog called Black Cab Sessions (blackcabsessions.com) where this guy picks up bands in his london cab and they play music in the "ultimate intimate venue." It sounds kind of weird, but it's very interesting way to listen to new bands.

Genesis Analysis

In the book of Genesis, God is the ultimate creator. He first creates heaven and earth and then light, “And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” Genesis suggests that God created earth and everything on it survives because of the light that God created. This belief is a complete contradiction to Darin’s theory of evolution. Darwin believes that species evolve and adapt to their surroundings; whereas, in Genesis, God creates species for their specific purpose. Both ideas are widely explored in today’s society, so I decided to post two blogs that express both views.

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/charles-darwin-a-man-a-mission-did-he-succeed

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/bibletrektoday

Darwin Analysis

Charles Darwin brings to light some very controversial issues in Origin of Species. He shows scientific evidence to back all of his ideas and even disputes the critics of his work; however, the uncertainty in his language leads a reader to become very skeptical and even confused. His hesitation is evident in the line, "The truth of these propositions cannot, I think, be disputed" (Darwin 1). By inserting his own suspicions throughout his works, he proves his already concrete statistics to be illegitimate.