Journal # 5

Camus presented the book in two parts to emphasize the differences between the two. Also, by making the differences so pronounced, he highlights the parallels. One parallel is the description of the setting. In both parts Camus goes into great detail explaining the surroundings. In part one, however, it is mostly the natural  environment that is described. "The sky was already filled with light. [...] and the crackling of grass." (Camus, 15-16) In part two, the descriptions are of inside places. One description is of the visiting room. "To get to the visiting room [...]brought on a kind of dizziness." (Camus, 73) Another parallel is the attention Meursault pays to very minor characters. Meursault watches the little robot woman and notices every detail about her. "I had dinner at Céleste's. [...] so I left too and followed her for a while." (Camus, 43) In part two, he describes all the prisoners in the visiting room. "The man on my left [...] staring intently at each other."(Camus, 75) A minor parallel is Meursault's mention of eyes. On page 64 and page 4, for example. Another is how people re described as looking like they are feeling an emotion instead of being described as feeling that emotion. On page 65 and 37 this happens. People feel comfortable talking to Meursault in both parts. Raymond and the prison guard do not know Meursault that well, but they both talk to him like a friend. The prison guard says "'Right. You see, you understand these things. The rest of them don't. '" (Camus, 79). On pages 28-33 Raymond tells very personal things to Meursault, and trusts him even though they don't usually talk.