Albert Camus (Undergrad Work)

            Albert Camus is labeled by so many as an existentialist as a result of his only idea-related book The Myth of Sisyphus, which was actually directed against the so-called existentialist philosophers of the day, whom shared some common beliefs with him. In the two interviews I found, Camus attempts to explain why he is not an existentialist, and his daughter Catherine is interviewed at The First Man – Albert Camus’ posthumous novel – she included some more evidence stating why he is associated with the movement.

            Believe it or not, Camus is not an existentialist. According to him, he could never remain a neutral, for life does not allow neutrality with all issues. For example, he was extremely hostile toward the Franco regime in Spain because of his commitment against all totalitarianism (Wilkinson 6). He involved himself into the day’s world issues, particularly those in his own backyard yet remained foreign to the society in which he lives. Similar to his character Mersault from The Stranger, Albert Camus does not conform to an example of solidarity; however, he is not automatically looked at as a piece of social wreckage (Thody 336).

            Elements of being in exile persist throughout The Stranger. For instance, after being arrested, he is threatened with “things could get very nasty” by Mersault if he refuses to cooperate with the authorities. He is further exiled by the same officers by treating him as a child without hope. Catherine Camus explains in her interview that her father was not in exile “in Paris or elsewhere, but from the intellectual world, because of his origins. And that’s a complete exile” (Wilkinson 6). In short, his take of solidarity:  Regardless of what is said and/or heard, Albert Camus is a man first, idealist second.

            Another part Camus emphasizes is that everything has to be accepted before it can be improved. Everyone has a right to hope for a brighter future, a better day, a new humanity, and many turned to the idea of communism in its beginnings (Wilkinson 6). To some, a controlling communist society suffices; in theory, human criteria is viewed as a secondary condition in comparison.

Sources

Camus, Albert. The Stranger translated by Matt Ward. New York:  First Vintage

International, 1989.

Camus, Lyrical and Critical Essays, ed. Philip Thody/trans. Ellen Lowery Kennedy.

            New York:  Knopf, 1969. 336.

Wilkinson, Russell. “Solitaire et solidaire”. Interview. October 1995. http://www.spikemagazine.com