Dana wrote:
> Interesting. I got into that particular theme because my professor
> said that Sartre was a humanist while Camus was not. I came to see
> that she was looking at La chute (The Fall?) and The Flies whereas I
> was looking at Nausea and The Plague. But still. Sartre strikes me as
> being very coldly intellectual overall. A lot of his characters are
> Resistance fighters though, which may account for it. (Les mains
> sales.-Dirty Hands?)
> 
> Kobo Abe? Tell me more. 
> 
> Dana
> 

I agree with you on your assement of Sartre.  Remember, everything worth 
mentioning about both these men is in realtionship to their WW2 
experience.  Both men were part of the Resistance.  After all was said 
and done, Sartre, like many of his Frenchmen, were clamoring for the 
heads of German soliders.  Camus had the strength to rise up and 
denounce such actions.  He argued that the French would be no better 
then the Germans if they continued the violence.

Sartre had this weird sense of logic.  While many believe EX to be 
giving into the hopelessness/no control/meaningless-ness of life, he 
found it to be very encouraging and hope-giving.  Sartre is the more 
humanist.  He belives that man is power and he doesn't need outside 
forces to give man reason and meaning.  Humanist, as a literay 
definition is to believe in the ability of man.  It is the prime reason 
why I enjoy his works.  But Camus himself was a better practicer of 
humane habits.  He had the grace to accept a Nobel Prize while Sartre, 
God bless his convictions, rejected his.

Most basic english teachers will try to teach Abe as the Japanese Kafka. 
  Huge mistake.  He recently died.  I've heard all these little theories 
and ideas about his writing.  Nothing substantial enough to pass along 
on a public forum though.  Basically his book is a modern touch up of EX 
ideas.  His writing style in Women in the Dunes is very minimal.  Just 
the way I like it.

-- 
2004 - The year $184M couldn't buy a pennant.

Ron Artest: Extremely flawed, very accidental, semi-martyr


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