La Chute

I like La Chute (is that worrying?!) I think it’s a really strong text, and seems to pack in a lot of Camus’s favourite things! I also think it’s quite difficult not to make psychological judgements about Clamence (even though I know it’s not necessary because what’s in the text functions on its own). I think it’s definitely an interesting portrayal of someone for whom reality hasn’t lived up to expectations or ideals. More pertinent still is that when the chance arises, Clamence doesn’t live up to his expectations either (particularly when he finds himself carrying on walking, knowing that the woman on the bridge has just thrown herself off) and is disillusioned by that. He admits that he takes life seriously (“je continuais seulement de jouer mon rôle, aussi bien que je pouvais” (92-3)) but is tormented by the idea that he won’t be able “d’accomplir ma tâche”. I like the tension between the pleasure he can find in his almost mystical sense of his own morality, and those moments when it lets him down. I think it’s inevitable that we try to examine the ‘psychology’ of the character; I don’t think we’d want to go on reading about Clamence if we couldn't feel any speck of empathy towards any part of what he's saying.