<i>L'Exil et le royaume</i> has been seen as a marginal work undertaken in preparation for another novel. However, the <i>nouvelle</i> makes specific demands, which I examine in Chapter 1, and use as a basis for analysis of Camus's narrative strategies in the stories, to argue that the <i>nouvelles</i> are richer, more personal, more complex, and better crafted than has previously been acknowledged. In Chapter 2, I argue that Camus's third-person narrative in 'La Femme adultée' filters all information through the consciousness of the female protagonist. Temporal effects, sense impressions and <i>style indirect libre</i> remove obstacles to the reader's participation, and lyrical language conveys an otherwise inexpressible experience. In Chapter 3, I argue that autobiographical material dispels some of the mystery of 'Le Renéat'. Imprisoning the reader in the protagonist's mind, the dialogic first-person narrative creates tension and, supported by the temporal structure, repeatedly draws the reader back to an anguished present. Chapter 4 shows Camus exploring the consciousness of an inarticulate worker to treat the theme 'solidaire/solitaire'. Using images of light, liquid, and enclosure, he moves beyond the particular to a universal view of solidarity. The problem is pursued in Chapter 5 ('L'H^ote') where focalization, dialogue and paralinguistic elements mark the difficulty of cross-cultural communication. Camus's exploration of universal solidarity goes beyond conflicting loyalties to probe questions of responsibility. Chapter 6 discusses Camus's use of the <i>conte</i>. Ironic and humorous, the <i>conte</i> proves inadequate to promote sympathy for the artist/writer. Camus therefore changes tack, attenuating the irony and providing greater emotional impact. Chapter 7 shows Camus drawing together the themes of preceding stories in a positive conclusion. Imagery developed from <i>La Chute</i> suggests that commitment and solidarity provide access to the 'kingdom'. However, I argue that the subtext poses problems which are never satisfactorily resolved.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:637313 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Howells, V. |
| Publisher | Swansea University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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