The first-person narration in Albert Camus’ The Fall is unlike any narration we have
come across in class thus far. The main character/narrator, Jean-Baptiste, makes
the reader into a character by using “you” in the narration. The novel begins
with Jean-Baptiste’s inability to save a woman who has fallen off of a bridge.
The title of the novel not only literally symbolizes the woman’s fall, but also Jean-Baptiste’s
psychological fall and spiral into a dark place subsequent to the event.
It becomes obvious that Jean-Baptiste’s character in the
novel is also the character that the reader plays in the novel: he describes
himself as having a “double face.” In a way, Jean-Baptiste not only symbolizes the
reader, but also mankind. By not telling the reader right away that they are one and the same, he is allowing the reader to search deeply into themselves. This becomes
recognizable when Jean-Baptiste says, “I am skipping… over these details which have certain
significance. Well,… I am skipping over them so that you will notice them
better.”
I agree that The Fall is a quite different literature to read. It's interactive nature of narration also adds taste to reading it. It sort of reminds me of a series The Name of the Wind where the story takes place in two different time while the main character talks about his previous triumph to a writer who records it. The story constantly switch between the two, each with its own story. I definitely agree that Jean-Baptiste wants the reader to search and question more about themselves, but I don't quite see the two as one though...
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeng above. I'm not entirely convinced that Jean-Baptiste represents himself and the reader since, especially since if that were the case, I should feel more connected with Jean-Baptiste. However, throughout the story I just felt more and more disgusted with his manipulative ways. Maybe it's a reflection of myself? Maybe, but I'm not entirely convinced.
ReplyDeleteGood observation with connecting the suicide of the woman off of the bridge with the title of the book, The Fall. I had not put those two thoughts together yet. There really is so much symbolism within this story. His unique writing style of making it into an interactive piece is also so unique and truly amazing when I really think about it. He makes the reader almost psychoanalyze themselves all by simply confessing his entire life story. He does all of this without the reader even realizing what is happening. The act of throwing in little details that apply to him but could also apply to the audience make his method that much more effective.
ReplyDeleteFocusing just on his confession of letting the woman jump from the bridge, this brings in the idea of guilt that we discussed in class. It makes the reader wonder what it takes for one person to be guilty. He didn’t push her off of the bridge, but he also didn’t say a word when he noticed the compromising position that she was in. He didn’t even rush back to the bridge to see if there could be anyway to try to save her after the fact. Albert Camus would say that according to these details, he is definitely guilty. In fact, he would argue that everyone is guilt of something or other, whether they are even aware of it or not. It might not even be by their actions, but by their inactions just like the inaction performed by Jean-Baptiste.