Opening Lines of The Stranger by Albert Camus
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 27 июл 2024
- Opening Lines of The Stranger by Albert Camus
Maman died today. Or yesterday maybe, I don’t know. Although, it has been said that these opening lines are impossible to translate into English, this begins the short novel “The Stranger” by Albert Camus. Here, we will take a look at the antihero Meursault, and how he is portrayed in the work. Though often accused of many things in which Camus had spoken out against, he is nonetheless a complex character that is well established within the opening lines of The Stranger (often translated to The Outsider).
Themes in The Stranger by Camus:
• Themes in The Stranger...
Alice Kaplan’s “Looking for the Stranger”
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/...
Oliver Gloag’s Introduction
www.amazon.ca/Albert-Camus-Ve...
Albert Camus’s collected essays
www.amazon.ca/Lyrical-Critica...
The Stranger
www.amazon.ca/Stranger-Albert...
0:40 oops Camus died in 1960 not 1260. Congrats on hitting 900 subs. L'Etranger is one of my favorite books and one of the few I've actually read in French. Are the six ducks significant? Les canards enchaînés? Meursault is judged more for not crying at his mother's funeral than for killing an Arab.
Oh my! I can't believe I hit "2." Haha, I don't know how I did that, since they are at opposite ends haha😂 Thank you for that catch. I will have to pin this so others can see it, and not think Camus predates the 100 Years War.🤣 I would love to be able to read it in French. Still hope to one day. And yes! There is always significance behind the ducks haha😅 glad you liked this, it is a great novel.😊
@@attention5638 Congrats on hitting 1 000 subscribers!
Thank you Jim! Hopefully it sticks. I have been seeing some strange patterns, and hope something is not messing around with everything. I will be happy with it if it lasts a bit before I accept it 😅 maybe it is all normal, I have no clue how any of it works 😂
@@attention5638 The RUclips algorithm likes you and has been recommending your content to other viewers.
I've never thought as Mersault as anti-social or emotionless, only as a little weird and concise in his ability to communicate. I think sometimes of Carver's or Hemingway's ways of conveying emotion without spelling it out for the reader and I think -- although very differently -- Camus works a similar magic with Mersault. I actually came to love him as a friend at the end. Your points the complicated relationship of a hyper-observant character who "refuses to play the game" to others who expect more of him are apt and interesting. Great work.
Absolutely! And Camus would agree as well, describing Meursault as someone with a deep passion that is stubborn and absolutely true. At one point, even calling him "the only Christ we deserve." An ironic affection an artist may feel for their characters. I am glad you liked this. Thank you. 😊
You know how much I loooooove these opening lines!! Les Ducks were an excellent touch! This series is bringing me a lot of joy, thank you!
Oh good! I am glad to hear. 😊 I know you like this work, so I am always looking forward on your thoughts on these 😊
That is a very striking first line! I like how you discussed how it related to the entire novel rather than just the characterization. I think it is interesting that he thought things will be the same weather he existed or not versus the impact of his actions and guilt. Wonderful video as always! 😊
I love how the first line sers the tone immediately, and it just keeps hitting, over and over. It is funny how one's views on the world can shape the way you see others who may or may not believe the same things. He is an interesting character, for sure. Thank you so much for checking this out! Hope you have a wonderful day!😊😊
The philosophy of literature is always astounding...
I completely agree. It never gets boring 😎
You have that voice and personality that I could watch/ listen to no matter what you are talking about. You could read a restaurant menu and make it sound like an amazing piece of literature 🤩
Hahaha, Thank you so much! Maybe my next video I will discuss a restaurant menu under a philosophical lens haha😂😅
Yup, I remember that line. That's about all I remember. And I'll have to watch this again. I tried to be serious and studious, I really did, but the multiplying duckies got to me.
Hahaha the ducks were slowly taking over. I want to think of more ways I can put them in the videos 😅😂
I am patiently waiting for Katie’s comment. 😎
After this analysis I find myself liking Meursault much more. I’m almost envious of him 😂 people from the outside look at him as being cruel, but all he did was stop playing the past, present and future game and just brought it to the present. It’s like he can’t love his girlfriend if he experiences everything in the present. If he has nothing from the past to build on why he loves her then he can’t say that he does. If his mother doesn’t exist anymore and he ignores the memories of the past then she is nothing to him. Society can’t handle how this man stopped playing the game so they took him out of it completely. It’s a weird sense of being free, but only to a certain point because the society that he lives in is not free from past or future.
Of course this is what I got from my discussions with you and Katie. I still have to read the book for myself but it is ready at the library! 😊
I think Camus would very much agree with the statement about taking him out completely because he didn't play the game. Although, he could be very cruel, (I mean, he does murder someone, after all 😅) the reasons on why he was this way is what is not understood by society. It is not so much about him being kind or cruel, good or bad, but the reasons behind the decisions, and the freedom to choose. He may not be "good" by most people's standards, but he was more free, because he was left alone to make his own choices in life.
I can't wait until you are able to read it. I think you would like this one much more than The Fall haha😅
Sometimes I like to just put your videos on in the background while I work it's such a soothing listen~
Thank you very much! 😊😊
I absolutely am obsessed with books' opening lines! The Stranger-yet another awesome book suggestion for me to read! I think this is a great opening line! As detached as the line is from his thoughts is interesting. I love how abrupt it is. Very intriguing. I would read on immediately because to me it is a great attention grabber. As always I love the insight you give into the character and the novel itself. Thank you for another great video! Keep this great content coming!
Thank you so much! I completely agree, it definitely captures the readers attention. It tells so much about the character while keeping everything a mystery. It is a really great little novel.😊😊
Contrasting Meursault's experience to my own when my mother died immediately helped me to understand Meursault disconnect from the world. To be honest, I see Meursault as mentally ill, not as someone following a rational, thought out philosophy. I love what you did with the ducks here. I'm looking forward to the day when we get the duck decoder ring to understand what they're all about. Also interesting that you picked a picture of a guillotine on a raised platform when the book specifically mentioned that's not the case anymore.
One day, everyone will know the true meaning behind the ducks 😅 And yes! You are right! I didn't even think about that when looking for a photo to use, but that is a good catch, thank you!
What do you think about Camus’ use of the word Maman? I’m not fluent in French, but as explained to me by French Canadian professor, maman is a child’s term for mother. “Mommy died today” was his transition.
Oh! Great question, and I looked into this (as I do not speak French). From what I gathered "maman" is more a word used by a child, but as an adult, it is more like a "more caring word than mother, but loses its child-like appeal as one gets older." Now, that is just what I read, but it would explain why it is difficult to translate, as I don't think we have a word in English that changes its connotation depending on the age of someone saying it. So I am going with that for now, and if that is not true, hopefully someone can correct me haha. Thank you for the question!😊
I love this story, but I'd never looked up photos of Camus before. Interesting. This video reminded me of a teacher who had us practice explication and I like that a lot. So much discussion can come from just a few lines. :)
Right! It is crazy what one can do with just three words. Explication can be a lot of fun, and great practice for every day life. Thanks for checking this out!😊😊
Great review and video, and man u really upgraded the lighting. Very nice
Thank you! I actually don't know how my lighting turned out so much better in this one. I need to figure out how I did that haha
Great discussion and I love how this sparked off further conversation in the comments! 💛
Thank you so much! Me too! It is always nice to see that people are really engaged with these subjects. 😊😊
Great summary of one of my favourite novels, with some of the greatest opening lines. I used to read it once a year for 10 years or so.
I had no idea this was one of your favorite novels, but that doesn't surprise me as we seem to have a similar taste. It is always nice to hear when someone that appreciates the novel as much tells me I did not completely miss the mark, haha. Thank you very much!
When you talked about Mersault only recognising people and things that exist in that moment, it reminds me of a child at the pre-operational stage of cognitive development. And whilst I’m fascinated (and actually quite frightened) by your discussion of Mersault’s inability to see beyond the material and the moment, I’m left wondering about the ducks… 😂
Hahahaha oh yes, the momentary lapse of insanity will have the ducks trying to take over 😅
@@attention5638 😂
Such a striking first line! Your video makes me think that it must be so easy to misinterpret so much in this text! With the concept of truth Camus presents, he also seems to imply that emotions are rational and follow specific lines of thought and logic. I’m now even more curious this book! Excellent analysis!
It is definitely an easy book to misinterpret. Camus had written to a lot of critics, having to explain much of it haha. And though I am just guessing here, as I haven't read anything about this, I would think that may be why Meursault seems somewhat emotionless at times (though he does have very deep emotions, they just don't translate the same). Meybe he does recognize them as irrational. I will have to think on that one. 😊😊
Hey :D almost on 1K congrats dear friend!!
this is starting to be interesting :D and that first line hmm hmm perfection!
Thank you so much, my friend! That is one of my favorite opening lines in a novel.😊
I figured the 1260 thing was a typo, for goodness sakes! Though it did make me think for a second...what if? Anyway, this was fantastic Pae. Of course, as one of my favorite stories, I found the analysis thoroughly engaging. I consider that even Camus' reference to his dark protagonist as non-antisocial could be seen in light of such awarenesses of the era. Many concepts surrounding psychology have been more broadly defined.
Also - The Stranger, or The Outsider? Obviously the behavior in being bereft of emotion concerning anything (it seems more blasé than irritation) is itself outside of societal norms, and therefore "strange". These preponderances would be considered psychopathic today.
Perhaps that's why I like the story so much. I marvel at how a character can be so without character, revealing an absurdist chaos that might have otherwise been a nice weekend is Marsault wasn't such a murderer. ☮💚😏🎶
Absolutely! One could go on and on interpreting the character of Meursault, and his character would change in understanding through time with the more we discover or uncover about the human psyche. I think a major point that Camus was making was this idea of someone outside the social norms, not necessarily someone who lacks emotion, just doesn't have the similar attitude as everyone around him. Thank you for the thought out comment! Hope your week is going well! 😊😊😎
Great deconstruction of The Stranger!
Thank you very much! 😊😁
The Stranger is such a crazy story (in a good way).
I very much agree. Good crazy is good. Haha😎
Good video! Also, congratulations on 910 subscribers.
Thank you so much! I got a good push these last two weeks😊😊
Apropos of this intro talking about our relation to time...I watched a video today where we got to talking about our species' relation to time and how it could be improved. Less literary, more ... existential? but a great end to the conversation. If you're interested, it's today's Thoughtful Bro on A Mighty Blaze (don't want to put a link up or I may disappear!)
Oh! That is something that I would be 100% interested in. Thank you for letting me know!😊
Fascinating discussion as always 🤗 Just a general comment but I find it so interesting how translations can really affect ones overall interpretation of a book
Right! Especially with this one, where the translation can really provide a whole different meaning to the text!😊
Yes! I had been waiting for this! I learned I was of course pronouncing his name was wrong. I appreciate your comments on remorse in the court scene. I always struggled with how he felt vs understanding of the world. Looking forward to the next one
I am pretty sure I am pronouncing it right, haha. Inhave heard ot so many times, and still struggle. I am terrible at pronouncing names. I am glad you liked this, those that's few chapters in the court and cell are pretty intense. 😎
If Camus had written a companion-guide to understanding The Stranger I wonder how effective that would have been...hmmm.
Though it is not a companion-guid, a lot of the underlining philosophy and ideas in The Stranger can be found in his essay The Myth of Sisyphus. Reading that had a lot to do with how I came to understand a lot in the novel.😊😎
@@attention5638 Thanks. I'll have to revisit that. I always like to know the author's POV.
@@stevencorey1278 Totally! Myth of Sisyphus is a really great read!
Oh my God... that's a good improvement Mr. Attentive critique... I see the duck laid some eggs too
Thank you very much, my friend! I have been taking my time with these haha😊😎
I Just finished reading this and rushed over to your channel to watch these. I had written down some notes and after listening to your first video on this novel, I am kind of happy that I was almost able to get the main themes correctly although I definitely don't know them by their technical philosophical terms. I would love to do a review from non-philosophical lens.. 😊 thanks for this great video..
Oh! That is so great to hear! And I would love to hear a non philosophical view of this. Camus did consider himself an artist first, so I think he would approve. 😎
'the expectations of the jury' AGHHHHHH I like this angle, hmm...
Are rubber ducks as fertile as rabbits?! 😂🦆 I love the proliferation!
That is an important difference- being executed for a state of mind rather than because of the crime prompted by the state of mind.
That is a really great observation I really wish I had pointed out. Though it is something that I knew in a sense, I never really thought of it in such a straight to the point way. And that is exactly what Camus was getting at--the court system is absurd az the relationship between the laws and society is almost random. I will have to find the essay, but he says something about this somewhere. Would you mind if I put this comment up on my next discussion of this? Thank you so much!😊😊
@@attention5638 absolutely!! Share away! You know we both love beefy controversial discussions 🤣🤣🤣
@@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace Haha, this is true. Although, I think you are dead on, and Camus would back it up, so it may not get too beefy 😂
This is an epic opening line 😅 Loving the duck action in this! Great video! You are so close to 1,000 subs! Congratulations! 🥳🥳🥳
By the end of the year, my appartment will be full of only ducks, and this channel will take a weird turn haha😅 and thank you so much!😎😊
I'm not so sure that opening line is untranslateable. Although I'd translate it as, "Today, mum died."
That is actually what I thought too. Mum, with a U actually does capture it really well, but I have never seen anyone mention this. At least, what I have understood the word to be. Haha
@@attention5638 I think it's more common in the UK, it's kind of similar to the American "mom" I guess
makes me even more interested! :-)
Oh good! I look forward to hearing your opinions! I think you would like it.😎
I am always surprised by how much empathy I have for Meursault despite his appalling crime. I suppose it is his refusal to use his mother's death as an excuse or to win sympathy and avoid execution.
I always had sympathy for him as well, but could never tell why. But yes! That is a really great point, and maybe something that sticks in the readers mind somewhere. I have heard a lot of people say they feel sympathy too, but I always boiled it down to the few descriptions in which he does express powerful emotions in such a beautiful way. Great observation, and thank you! 😊😊
The strange thing with The Stranger is, that I am not sure anymore if I have ever read it or just know so much about it, that I think I have. But I will find out soon, if I have read it in the past or will read it in the future. I can't actually read it in the present, because the present is always gone in a blink. Or isn't it?
Hahaha This is true, we are never really aware of the present until it is slightly behind us, or we are thinking in future terms. Love this comment, thank you!😊😊
Very nice. Are we thinking Camus knew someone in his personal life who was a little like this. Someone who today we would name as sociopath or something similar.
And would you call the narration in The Stranger a reliable voice?
Though he was very cold hearted at times, he never did lie, and made a point about telling the truth, so I would say he is a very reliable narrator. He just wasn't the nicest person to other at times, haha. More passive than anything else, I think haha😊😎
I know this isn't about translation, but any thoughts on the differences between Stranger and Outsider meanings? And doomed to death for telling truth... an interesting commentary for the time.
Yes! At the time of the first translation, there was a popular novel that was also titled "The Stranger" so they had to change it to "The Outsider" but when a second translation was being done, Camus would only allow it is it was retitled to "The Stranger." 😊😊
@@attention5638 Publishing antics! Shoulda known...
Antisocial disorder. I heard that line before about someone really really close 2 me.😁
Geez your ducks are breeding.
This book sounds pretty interesting. Great
Entertaining, and interesting Video as Usual. 😁👍😁👍
Thank you so much! I am very antisocial, but it is not a disorder 😅 and yes, my appartment will be full of ducks by the end of the year😎😅
@@attention5638 Same. I hope mine is not a disorder. LoL 🤣
@@jamesfetcho6315 Nah, I would say you're good! Haha
@@attention5638 LoL
🤣 my brain has been hurting for a month, seriously thought I was going crazy with those ducks 😅👀 nope, yay! 😂 loving it all, but this recent section of the series might be a personal fav 🤘🥰 🫀
Thank you so much for checking it out! By the end of the series, the ducks will have taken over 😅
@@attention5638 if you unmask and turn out to be the grand Papi ducky in the end, my brain will officially be deceased 😂🤭🥺😂
hey - how's it going? This might seem a strange mention -> an essay by a Christian philosopher called:
"The Absurdity of Life without God" (William Lane Craig). It might be interesting food for thought, even for those who reject religion in general, or Christianity especially. Another interesting video, Pae. Thank you. ☺
**** "...The rabbi at Auschwitz said that it was as though there existed a world in which all the Ten Commandments were reversed. Thou shalt lie. Thou shalt kill. Thou shalt steal. Mankind had never seen such a hell..." (WLC)
Hey Mike! Always good to see you, hope you are well! And yes! I have heard a few of WLG's lectures in the past. He is someone I may not have been on board with some of what he says, but the lectures I have heard are very valuable for many reasons. I liked his arguments on consciousness, but I do not believe I have read this essay you mention. I will write it down, and give it a read tomorrow! Thank you!😊😊
many yeets
And many more to come!😅
Aujourd'hui, j'ai appris quelque chose. J'ai dû regarder plusieurs fois. Cela n'a pas d'importance. 😁
Yes exactly!
I’ve never heard of the novel. I’m very interested to read it sometime.
And congrats on 900 subs! Woo hoo 🙌🏼
So excited for you...this is one of those books (for me) that I wish I could read again for the first time.
Thank you so much! It is an amazing novel, and a quick read! Although, one that may take a bit more time due to depth and not so.much length.😊
@@aethra88 Yes! In a way, I read it for the first time, twice. The first read, I knew nothing of Camus, and loved it for the beautiful, artistic writing. The second time I read it, I had been studying his work for a while, and loved it for the philosophical ideas he explores. One of my favorites, for sure. 😊