Final Thesis

Through Mersault's observations and interactions with others, Camus reveals that it is unfair to consider nonconformists defiers of societal norm, because often, they choose their nonconformity independent of societal influence.

Dystopian Journal 1

Dystopian Book: Brave New World

"He had emerged from that crimson twilight into the common electric glare with a self-consciousness intensified to the pitch of agony. He was utterly miserable, and perhaps(her shining eyes accused him), perhaps it was his own fault. "Quite wonderful," he repeated; but the only thing he could think of were Morgana's eyebrows"(Huxley 57).
The passage reveals that Bernard is different from the rest of society. The society runs by the two guiding forces that "everyone belongs to everyone else" and conditioning people to “love whatever they are forced to do.” This is emphasized by society's attitude to sexual activity, which is such an integral part of life that everyone feels perfectly comfortable with the freedom with which it is talked about. This section of the book finds Bernard attending Solidarity Service, a ritual where 12 people (6 males and 6 females) join to make themselves "one identity". Huxley implies that this is a sex ritual, where everyone has to be engaged with someone else. This emphasizes principle that everyone belongs to everyone else, because having sex with different people is not an option in this society, but an expectation, conditioned in them from a young age. The rest of the people involved in the Service, after the sexual activity is over, are enraptured by how “wonderful” it is, thus showing that society has successfully conditioned them to love what they are forced to do. Bernard knows that he is abnormal for not feeling the same way. He feigns enthusiasm, but cannot hide his ill ease for this ritual. All he can focus on is the disgust that he feels for the attitude that his society takes toward making every aspect of life so public.
Word Count:231

New Thesis

Mersault's refusal to conform to society's norms is not out of defiance to society, but an independent choice he makes on how to lead his own life.

Thesis Revision

Using foils and juxtaposition to characterize Mersault, Camus reveals that judging Mersault as an outsider to society due to his renouncement of expected moral standards is unfair because a defiance of conventional morals does not always indicate a rejection of society and their values.

The Stranger: Journal 8

Thesis: Camus reveals that judging a person by the emotions they display is meaningless because an absence of emotion does not necessarily indicate a lack of humanity. Though Mersault is emotionally disconnected, his active choice to live this way shows that he is as human as anyone who choses to live a life filled with emotion.

The Stranger: Journal 9

At the end of the text, Mersault comes to the conclusion that searching for a "deeper meaning" in life is futile. He believes he has found all the meaning he needs in his life by choosing to live it the way he wants-which happens to be devoid of emotion. Camus wants the readers to feel this way as well, and also to develop an understanding for Mersault's attitude. After coming to this realization, Mersault is at peace with himself and therefore is happer.

The Stranger: Journal 7

Camus creates 2 parts for two reasons: First, in order to create and build tension. Camus lays the groundwork for the story in Part 1, and much of the action happens in Part 2. Secondly, Camus compares Mersault's personality from Part 1 to Part 2. This is shown by two similar passages: the first at the end of Ch. 1 in Part 1, and at the end of Ch. 3 in Part 2. Both use long sentences describing a scene full of things that Mersault loves. However, in part 2, Mersault is looking back on these things, realizing that he has now been robbed of these "simplest and most lasting joys". Part 1 establishes these joys that Mersault loves but doesn't think are anything special. Part 2 shows Mersault's discovery that these simple joys are what gave his life meaning-the value that he put into things. Supporting this discovery is the scene where the chaplain tells Mersault that he must have wanted a religious life at some time. Mersault realizes that he has lived a more meaningful life than anyone who has been religious because he knows exactly what meaning his life has: He gave his own life meaning.