Chapter 25 Journal Entry for Beloved

Chapter 25
43. How does Stamp Paid try to explain Sethe’s actions to Paul D? Do you agree or disagree with him? Explain. 

43) Stamp Paid tried to explain that Sethe was only trying to "outhurt the hurter". Meaning she wouldn't let schoolteacher at her children, and the only way she knew was to hurt them worse so he wouldn't want them. To Stamp, this was a terrible crime, but an understandable one. I agree with him on the aspect. This is because I believe Schoolteacher and his nephews hurt her so bad, both mentally and physically, that she became convinced that she had no other choice. While scary and awful, what Sethe did does make sense to a degree. I think that Stamp Paid was right to defend her to Paul D , as he cares for the family and he understands how one's love can end at the hands of a white man. This is because Stamp had to give his wife to his old master's son, and when she was given back, he wanted to snap her neck and stop the torture to her soul, and the torture to his. 

The Stranger By Albert Camus Part 2 Review

The  idea of splitting this book into two parts is very interesting. It creates a divide between the two parts of Meursault's life we get to experience as writers. The first half is the happier (obviously) and the second is more depressing and cold and sterile. Meursault's thoughts seem very compartmentalized and the feelings we do see at towards the end disgust us. He is probably sociopathic. When he doesn't believe in lying, it isn't because he is a truthful honest man, and it isn't because he believes he deserves his fate, it is because he just doesn't know why he did. At the very end of the horrific experience, he state how he wants many people to come and scream at him in hate at his execution, because it is the only way he knows that people could appreciate his existence. Also towards the end of the book, he state how he understood Maman, how she tried to start her life over and it came to end, all he wants now is to live more, live longer, live over again. This is a drastic change from before where it seemed he wanted nothing (with the exception of sex with Marie) and he  didn't have a drive to do anything in his life, he was just letting it take him where ever it wanted to; like a boat drifting on a lake. Overall, I enjoyed trying to delve into his mind and understand in the first part of the book, in the second it became a sick horror you just couldn't stop looking at and reading and considering. Even though it was scary and sketchy, it was still a very well written book and I would recommend it.

Part One of The Stranger

The Stranger by Albert Camus is a very interesting book. For one, Albert Camus is a very interesting author and person in general. He has an intriguing view on life and how it works, for all manner of people. One way this pops up over and over in The Stranger is how Meursault, the main character, is seemingly emotionless after his mother's death, and how that continues through his life.

Although I am only through Part 1 of the book, I am completely fascinated and drawn into this piece of writing. Although it may seem bland and boring to some, I am intrigued by the inner workings of Meursault's mind. I would love to understand his true thought process, and the only way to do that is by gleaning every last detail out of this book. Although Camus has been writing with Meursault narrating via stream of consciousness, he doesn't elaborate much on the transitions between thoughts. I think that Meursault is a fascinating character and want to delve even deeper into this book to try and find out more about how he works. I also wish to find out if he ever discovers and accepts emotions, because I can understand how easy it is to simply ignore their existence in your own being. Overall, I would deem this book fascinating and well worth the read so far. It leaves you pensive and curious and over all very contemplative about the complexities of life and the human condition.