WE - Journal 3, Topic A

"Well, what then? I'm waiting. Choose: the Operation and its hundred-percent happiness or..."
"I can't go on without you, I can't, I must not be without you," I said, or only thought it-- I don't know which-- but I-330 heard it.
"Yes, I know," she answered. And then, her hands still holding me by the shoulders, and her eyes not letting mine go: "In that case--until tomorrow. Tomorrow at twelve. Remember?"
"No. It's put off for one more day... The day after tomorrow..."
"Even better for us. At twelve. The day after tomorrow..."
I walked alone along the dusky street. The wind twirled, carrying and chasing me like a piece of paper. Fragments of cast-iron sky were flying down, flying down through infinity-- but they have a day or two to go... Oncoming unifs grazed against me but I walked alone. It was clear to me: everyone was saved, but there was to be no saving me, I don't want saving. (page 163)

I find this passage to be important because it is the first instance D-503 feels a distinct separation from the one state and understanding of its inherent issues. Before, D-503 acted out of obedience to whatever I-330 said out of love/desire for her, even when he had reservations about his actions. He is still thinking with the logical and precise manner of the One-State. Here, when forced to make a choice between his ideals/thoughts and his desire for I-330 he breaks down and realizes that he does not want to be a part of the society. I believe that he comes to the realization that the main problem with the one-state is that it devalues great portions of the human experience. While it provides happiness it ignores and blocks the rest of human emotions, (desire, sadness, creativity) and so, while he sees the value of the one-state and its "happiness" he understands that it is shallow and ultimately chooses to take a more organic, as well as more painful route.D-503 has shed himself of the mindset that has contained him throughout the novel and throughout his life, which is shown in Zamyatin's portrayal of the environment, near this point the book shifts describing the sky as calm and pristine with blue (representing the one-state) to a turbulent and violent mass (that mirrors his new emotional and turbulent style of thinking)

WE- Journal 2, Topic B

      Inaudible, hasty droplets brimming over blue saucers, down her cheeks and words, hastily brimming over, too: "I can't anymore, I must go now... I won't ever come here again, never. But the only thing I want... All I need is a baby from you-- give me a baby and I will go, I'll go!"
      I could see: she was all atremble under her unif, and I could feel myself start to -- I put my hands behind me and smiled: "What? Now you're after the machine of the Benefactor?"
      And back at me with another word-torrent over a dam: "Fine! But, you see I would still get to feel it inside me. And even if I only get to see it for a few days... Just to see its little wrist-crease, just here-- like that baby on the stage. Just for one day!" (page 99)

     With her relationship to D-503, O-90 presents a foil to the relationship between I-330 and D, showing affection rather than desire. There are specific attributes to each Cipher letter we see in the novel and O is consistently described as round in both appearance and in manner. The repeated use of circles and circular objects serves to reinforce D's view of her as simple and childlike, a circle is the simplest of shapes and O-90 is the simplest of the Ciphers in regards to logic and mathematical thinking. D's relationship with O after he meets I-330 is one of affection, he even says later in the novel that his feelings for her are akin to an ancient parent's feelings for their child. By having a childlike figure as one of the main characters, Zamyatin portrays O-90 feelings, emotions and desires and less calculated and more organic (she is also described as pink, which is strongly associated with sex- one of the most instinctual processes). Thus, her desire to create and hold onto a unique experience (Parenthood) is natural. It shows that humans inherently desire to create and produce for themselves. This is further compounded by D-503, who states his journal is created for the state. He, being logical and complex, is the opposite of an analog for innate human desire, and thus it is shown that the desire to create for society is merely a product of that society.

WE- Journal 1, Topic C

Again, something's not right here. Again, I've been talking to you, my unknown reader, as though ... well, let's say, as though you were my old comrade R-13, the poet with African lips, a person everyone knows. Meanwhile, you -- on the moon, on Venus, on Mars, on Mercury-- who knows you?
          Here's the thing: imagine a quadrilateral-- a living, beautiful square. And this quadrilateral is asked to describe itself, its existence. But you see, the last thing that would occur to the quadrilateral mind would be to mention its four equal angles: it just doesn't see them--They're just a given, every day. Well, that's me, permanently in that same sort of quadrilateral predicament. Whether it's the business of the pink ticket or something similar: to me, it's all the equivalent of four angles, but for you, it may be more vividly evident than Newton's binomial theorem. (page 20)

I find this passage interesting because it helps to reveal deeper ideas within society than first may be assumed. When reading WE there is a strong sense of the conflict between individual and society and how the two interact. D-503 routinely states that everyone thinks and acts alike but the opposite is shown in his descriptions of other Ciphers. Each person he knows has specific attributes, many relating to their Cipher letter, and there is a distinct focus on the same features, (the mouth, for example) in which everyone is described differently. O has a round, pink mouth, R has African lips and I has white teeth. By differentiating between individuals Zamyatin may be suggesting that Individuality is not the main problem with their society. In this passage D-503 then goes on to describe how he cannot describe the society in which he lives precisely because he lives there, the connotations and experience prevent him from objectively explaining things. Because of this it may be possible that Zamyatin is speaking the impossibility of objectively judging society from within a showing an exaggerated case where no can see the problems all around them. I can definitely believe and relate to this, in America, where I have grown up I have trouble recognizing fundamental issues with the way things are designed or run, things have always been that way so I don't even see an alternative, it is as if the problem does not exist.

The Stranger - Thesis

In The Stranger, Albert Camus contrasts black and white to show the conflict between individual and societal perceptions, and through Meresault's actions develop the idea that an individual has the ability to alter society through actions that contradict what is accepted.

The Stranger - Journal 8

Journal #8: Personal response to The Stranger + what literary value do you ascribe to the novel (what makes a book a great work of literature and does this book achieve that)

Before reading The Stranger  the second time I cannot honestly say that I had any sort of positive feeling for the book, I did not find the plot or characters interesting on a personal level and I felt the book as a whole seemed flat. In the second reading, however, I felt a lot more connected to Meresault and understanding of his thoughts than I had previously. I still feel like the plot and characters are mostly flat, but I enjoyed attempting to unravel Meresault as a person and a thinker in the analysis of the novel. Personally, I would not choose to read a book like The Stranger on my own but I feel that being "forced" to read it was overall a good experience, it exposed me to a different viewpoint and style of thinking, which can never be bad for me as an individual.

To me, "literature" is any work that attempts to convey a message as opposed to a story. Literature is designed to make us think instead of gratifying us as a reader. "Great" literature is just this same idea with much grander and well designed execution where the writer sends a variety of messages through (almost) everything they do within the work. Using this definition, The Stranger would definitely qualify as a great work of literature.  Specifically to students at a high school level, The Stranger is valuable because it brings along with it philosophical ideals which most students at our age have limited exposure to.

The Stranger - Journal 7

Journal 7- Post your topic and 15 quotes that connect to your topic (these quotes can connect thematically or by technique). Once collected and analyzed, write a thesis statement.

Topic: Contrast between black and White

1. "I felt a little lost between the blue and white of the sky and the monotony of the colors around me - the sticky black of the tar, the dull black of all the clothes, and the shiny black of the hearse" p. 17
2. "his forearms were all white under the black hairs." p.47
3. "he had on a dark suit, a wing collar, and an odd-looking tie with broad black and white stripes." p. 64
4. "She had put on a white linen dress and let her hair down. I told her she was beautiful and she laughed with delight." p. 47
5. " the blood-red earth spilling over Maman's casket, the white flesh of the roots mixed in with it" p. 18
6. 'She seemed very surprised to see I was wearing a black tie and she asked me if I was in mourning."p.20
7. "a long gray moustache, and lots of thick, almost white hair." p. 64
8. "The glare on the white walls was making me drowsy" p. 9
9. "I wanted her so bad when I saw her in that pretty red-and-white striped dress" p.34
10. "One of them, however, much younger than the others, wearing gray flannels and a blue tie" p. 85
11. "a black tie with a knot [...] fine, white hair." p. 15
12. "Céleste was there, as always, with his big belly, his apron, and his white moustache." p.26
13. Near the casket was an Arab nurse in a white smock" p. 6
14. "small houses behind green or white fences" p. 49
15. "I still had to go up to Emmanuel's place to borrow a black tie and an arm band. He lost his uncle a few months back" p. 4

Camus contrasts black and white to illustrate the (external?) conflict that arises when individual desires do not match up with societal expectations and how the two cannot exists independently of one another.

The Stranger - Journal 6

Journal #6 Post 5 significant literary questions on The Stranger. The more authentic these are (i.e. questions you really have been pondering) the more insightful the answers will have to be. These questions should not be directed toward a right or wrong answer; rather, it should lead to personal interpretation of the text. You can revise a few of the questions you wrote for chapter six to include concepts from the entire book.

Why does Camus' use of language evolve from being simplistic and plain to complex and flowing by the end of the novel?

Why is the beach described in more detailed exotic language than Camus generally uses in description?

Why is Meresault so focused on color when he describes people and places?

Why is Meresault so uncharacteristically decisive in regards to Raymond's conflict with the Arab and the use of the gun?

Is the emphasis put on Meresault's "character" in the trial indicative of what society thinks of him?


Anthony Quach- 3. I do not think that she is representative of a more extreme Meresault in that she is described as "robotic" and meticulous, where as Meresault is more physically oriented (a robot does not feel tired or hot) and is definitely unsure of himself and his actions on multiple occasions. I think her purpose is that she provides one catalyst for Meresault's eventual thought processes when he is in prison. As pointed out by Sean, I think a reason Meresault has such an interest in her is that she has created a purpose for herself and even though that purpose cannot be seen it is evident that one can be created for the individual.

Jarrad Schulte 2. Camus' use of the word "Arab", while having racial implications, is primarily to develop Meresault as an outsider in society by drawing attention to the setting. Not only is he an individual with a thought process different than most people, he also is from an entirely different background than the majority of the people that inhabit the setting in which he lives. (Meresault is white and of french descent while most are Arabs)

Matt Merckling 5. The lack of outward emotion serves to characterize Meresault as someone who emotional events (or at least the ones he experiences) hold no greater meaning and should not be dwelt on. He has gotten to the point where he acknowledges the events but understands they are ultimately of no importance. His thoughts on his mother's death and on marriage reflect this, they don't ultimately mean anything and so warrant little attention.

Montana Agnew 3. Camus' lack of extensive background information regarding Meresault is intended to emphasize his inherent distance from the reader and through them, society. By not having a connection with Meresault as a character we can more easily analyze him through his unique world view and understand the basis of his personal philosophies.

Isabel Harger 2. I would argue that Meresault as a character is not precise and straightforward. Although what he says may be blunt there is a definite repetition of him being unsure of what drives him as an individual, such as when he is killing the Arab. Furthermore he is also unsure of himself when he responds to his boss, he expresses doubts over whether what he said was appropriate. Because of this I think the ambiguous language just helps in characterizing Meresault as uncertain (at least until the end of the book)