Albert Camus

andThe

StrangerAlbert Camus (1913 - 1960),

a French philosopher of the absurd, novelist, and dramatist

Albert Camus born in Algeria in 1913born in Algeria in 1913

settled in Paris and studied settled in Paris and studied philosophy and literaturephilosophy and literature

considered a principal author of the considered a principal author of the existentialist movementexistentialist movement

writings often considered controversialwritings often considered controversial

Albert CamusAlbert Camus, , cont.cont.

Writings affected by the time Writings affected by the time period, especially the horrors of period, especially the horrors of WWIIWWII

Work is characterized by simple Work is characterized by simple plots, effectiveness of dialogue plots, effectiveness of dialogue and dramatic effects, and an and dramatic effects, and an exploration of the hypocrisy of exploration of the hypocrisy of life.life.

L’ÉtrangerL’Étranger

Memorable quotesMemorable quotes

4. Which of the translations in the next four slides seems the most accurate? Most readable?

Give evidence:

WHY??

Aujourd’hui, maman est Aujourd’hui, maman est mortemorte.. Literally: Today, Mom is dead.Literally: Today, Mom is dead. Stuart Gilbert: Mother died today.Stuart Gilbert: Mother died today. Matthew Ward: Maman died today.Matthew Ward: Maman died today.

Et c’était comme quatre coups brefs Et c’était comme quatre coups brefs que je frappais sur la porte du malheur.que je frappais sur la porte du malheur.

Literally: And it was as four brief Literally: And it was as four brief shots I struck on the door of shots I struck on the door of unhappiness.unhappiness.

Stuart Gilbert: And each successive Stuart Gilbert: And each successive shot was another loud, fateful rap on shot was another loud, fateful rap on the door of my undoing.the door of my undoing.

Matthew Ward: And it was like Matthew Ward: And it was like knocking four quick times on the knocking four quick times on the door of unhappiness.door of unhappiness.

……je m’ouvrais pour la premiere je m’ouvrais pour la premiere fois à la tendre indifférence du fois à la tendre indifférence du monde.monde. Literally: …I was first opened to the Literally: …I was first opened to the

tender indifference of the world.tender indifference of the world. Stuart Gilbert: …for the first time, the Stuart Gilbert: …for the first time, the

first, I laid my heart open to the first, I laid my heart open to the benign indifference of the universe.benign indifference of the universe.

Matthew Ward: …for the first time…I Matthew Ward: …for the first time…I opened myself to the gentle opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world.indifference of the world.

Pour que tout soit consommé, pour que je me Pour que tout soit consommé, pour que je me sente moins seul, il me restait à souhaiter qu’il y ait sente moins seul, il me restait à souhaiter qu’il y ait beaucoup de spectateurs le jour de mon exécution beaucoup de spectateurs le jour de mon exécution

et qu’ils m’accueillent avec des cris de haine.et qu’ils m’accueillent avec des cris de haine.

Literally: So everything is consumed, so I myself Literally: So everything is consumed, so I myself feel less alone, it remained to hope that there are feel less alone, it remained to hope that there are many viewers of my execution and that they many viewers of my execution and that they welcome me with cries of hatred. welcome me with cries of hatred.

Gilbert: For all to be accomplished, for me to feel Gilbert: For all to be accomplished, for me to feel less lonely, all that remained to hope was that on the less lonely, all that remained to hope was that on the day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of day of my execution there should be a huge crowd of spectators and that they should greet me with howls spectators and that they should greet me with howls of execration.of execration.

Ward: For everything to be consummated, for me to Ward: For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.and that they greet me with cries of hate.