Intro

In Camus's "The Stranger", the author does more then write a novel. Seemingly so, he under develops characters characteristics, personalities, and movements. The main character Marsault has come off as someone who expressionless. Throughout the novel Marsault never opens up. He is a stand still, flat being who does not give the reader the excitement and yet is able to unravel the entire story through his descriptions and great detail. Camus's writing style allows him as the author to develop Marsault's character and give feeling, ironically enough, but still being able to use him as a main focus towards great detail because he ingeniously masks Marsault's rambling for narrative break down, giving the story great depth in short fragmented style. ( unique style, reader outside his comfort zone)

Paragraph 2

Camus writing style is very different to say the least. He seemingly writes in a way where all different kinds of readers can understand. He draws attention not only because of the great detail into each sentence but how he writes the sentences. Camus mimics a fragmented style that seems to connect with the reader towards a more personal level. He is able to bring out the story into a vivid reality essentially allowing the reader to live the story.  The fragmented style is really similar to the way we speak in real life and allows to read the story out loud and really keep the flow going by making the story very impersonal.

Paragraph 1

Camus expands the book by writing in short sentences. He seems to get his points across with more flow because he doesn't have random bulkiness clouding his main points and details. He sets Marsault as an emotionless being. We as the reader are shown that Marsault is a flat line and doesn't give us anything in the way he feels. As the reader we now take the emotions upon ourselves and live the book. As frustrating as it can be for some I believe it is an ingenious use of writing by Camus. Using short sentences, in a fragmented style, in away mimics our thoughts and the way we actually speak.  While many readers get easily frustrated with the author or main character for lack of focus or feeling, I feel that this is Camus's point.  He tries to set us off into a journey within the book and he does exquisitely so by creating the most detailed fictional world.  He has Marsault explain everything extremely vividly whether it be what he doesn't feel or what he does with his own hands by committing murder.  From start to finish, Camus writes everything in descriptive detail, an example being the constant presence of heat, sun, and red, let it be blood or something else, when the Arabs are always near Marsault.  As a result of such strict attention to detail Camus is even able to blind/hide the reader from the fact that Marsault never feels an emotion, making him seem unable to be explored and completely unsocial character, but all the while being the best protagonist and narrator out of any novel.

Essay Outline

Intro
- Discuss the writing style
- Camus's point
- Why he uses it
- Detail
- Thesis

Paragraph 1
- Talk about the detail
- The usage
- How we hear it
- Why
- How it affects the characters and situation
- Quotes

Paragraph 2
- The writing style
- Short sentences
- Choppy
- Why the writing style is easier to understand
- How it affects characters and situation
- Quotes

Conclusion
- Writing style
- Detail
- Short sentences
- How characters are seen

Essay Topic and Thesis

For my essay I'm going to write about Camus's writing style, but more importantly his attention to detail and the way he says writes.  He projects us Marsault as someone who lacks intelligence yet, all everything he says is in extreme and great detail.  He supplies with short sentences that mask how specific they are.  You wouldn't think fragment styled writing would get so much across, but Camus does that more then any other book I have ever read.

Working Thesis:  Camus's writing style allows him as the author to develop Marsault's character and give feeling, ironically enough, but still being able to use him as a main focus towards great detail because he ingeniously masks Marsault's rambling for narrative break down, giving the story great depth in short fragments.

Translators Blog

Most people find Meursalt sick or damaged as we talk about in class. As he might seem to have a slight form of mental disability I believe he is ironically much more deep then that. Meursalt seemingly enough has a mind bigger then some. He is always speaking his mind and isn't afraid of the emotions he is believed and seems to not have. His attention to detail is tremendous. Although it might make him seem like a dog or squirrel who doesn't much if an attention span or lengthy train if thought or feeling what he "blurts" out is more specific then anything in other books. It's difficult to explain what he is saying because he does it himself. "Children were either crying or lagging behind. Almost all at once moviegoers spilled out of the neighborhood theaters into the street." In the quote you see something that the regular eye wouldn't. Meursalt is presenting with not only a look onto something small but a peak into his life. So even though some may call him special because of a condition he is something special all on his own.

Compared Writing Syles

Camus's writing style is very detached. He presents a feeling of a lack of emotion, ironically enough. He is very choppy and short and sweet getting to the point with simplicity yet behind his simple writing style is great detail. He describes the surroundings such as the morgue or even the background or certain areas with grand adjectives giving you a real solid visual while all the while keeping everything such as the characters, reserved and quiet. This is similar to Conrad's style in the sense that great detail allows you to dive into the story with illustrative awesomeness yet they are also both on the dry, boring side making sometimes difficult to get through the page. But similarities with Kafka as well with the short choppy flow and reserved characteristics of the characters.