WE. MOTIF.

Dystopian Journal #1: WE, Topic B

I-330 is a character in Yevgeny Zamyatin’s novel WE who is locked in a personal struggle against her society. I-330 is victimized by her society in that her interests, beliefs and personality especially conflicts with what her society expects of her. I-330 is noticeably different in her personality, and it is noticed by others. She is also caught in self-conflict because of this external conflict. She is constantly criticizing the ancient society when she actually embraces there ideals and habits( ie. Drinking and smoking). This not only displays self conviction, but an act of open rebellion against what her society expects of its people. She attracts D-503 because she does these forbidden things, while the blinds are closed and nobody can see. Smoking, drinking and even tempting D-503 with writing a note to excuse him from work are all things that this society forbids, because each of these things is for personal benefit only and has contribution to the community. Just as today’s teens rebel because they seek attention, I-330 seeks attention from D-503. In a sense, her open rebellion against her society was successful since it was able to gain attention from D-503. She even gave him the burden of love, dreams and the worst known condition of the society, a soul. In response to this, she simply laughs. As if she is unconcerned about societal norms, and what she knows she has accomplished by showing D-303 the forbidden ancient world of sin and self-gain.

Word count- 247

mostly brand new thesis

Camus expresses the idea that abstract things in life, such as religion, emotion, and worry, are not needed through Meursaults lack of expression to Marie, Meursaults lash against religion, in speech and life style, and Meursaults lay back attitude concerning his schedule and lack of dwelling upon his mothers death.

Revised Thesis

Camus "the Stranger" can be seen as a representation of how people only gain the ability to express emotion when judged by society when considering Meursaults inability to express emotion when it is normally appropriate, Meursaults sudden emotional floods felt at the end after realizing he has been convicted, and Meursaults notion that all interacions with people are equal on emotional levels.

Jornal entry # 17

Meursault comes to the conclusion that life is something that can be appreciated only upon reflection, that all lives are equal in death, and that death is an inevitable thing that cannot be avoided so there is no use in dwelling upon it weather death comes soon or later. also that all lives are equal in general, and the ways we change each other should be accepted by the person and not forced.
Camus wants everybody to come to different conclusions or else he wouldn't have made such a controversial character, in such a controversial situation. some people will assume that whatever conclusions made by Meursault must be negative all the time, while others may assume that his last thoughts are of positive meaning.
Meursault is happier at the end of the novel. he is able to realize that people love and care for him and that he is able to love and miss others for non-physical purposes. he is also able to appreciate the world around him. although, making himself open to emotion also makes him more vulnerable, and more prone to being hurt or dissatisfied. staying neutral all the time allows a person to not feel downs as bad, and it makes them incapable up feeling ups.

Thesis for "The Stranger"

Camuses "The Stranger" expresses the notion that emotion can only be felt when judged by others are judged when considering Meursaults notice of how people must have thought about his lack of emotion, the scene in which Meursault enters the courtroom and emotion is generated from everybody giving him attention, and Meursaults respose to other pepole directly judging him( about his lack of faith and his mother)

jornal entry # 16

The primary reason for Camus to create two parts to "The Stranger" is to display a change in outlook and emotion that is experienced by Meursault. In the beginning portion of the book it can be easily noted that he has a lack of emotion and caring about anything existing outside the physical realm, yet in the second part, having all of what he took for granted taken away form him, having experienced a relationship and having actually cared for his dead mother creates a contrast. Camus compairs several situations which have been experienced by Meursault in his old and new outlooks and emotional capabilities. An example would be how in the beginning of the book, when attending his mothers funeral, everybody stares at him and they all somewhat judge him in the way he left his mom in a home. he experiences a general lack of care for this. during his time in court, he enters a court room in which everybody stares and judges him in similar ways, and he is heavily effected emotionally by this judgement. this suggests emotional growth within Meursault.