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Camus' Vision of Greatness
Author(s) -
Curtis Jerry L.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
orbis litterarum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.109
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1600-0730
pISSN - 0105-7510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0730.1974.tb01040.x
Subject(s) - greatness , absurdity , ridiculous , impossibility , philosophy , aesthetics , humanity , consciousness , literature , absurdism , epistemology , art , law , theology , political science
This study is a concise analysis of Albert Camus' concept of heroism. Attention is drawn to the fact that as a means of depolarking the antipodean forces of both modem Christianity and contemporary Atheism, Camus invoked three Grecian figures ‐ ‐ Sisyphus, Prometheus and Nemesis ‐ ‐ as paradigms from which he declined his own heroes. Seen as prototypes of humanity, these legendary figures embody the absurdity, revolt and moderation which correspond to stages in the development of Camus' own concept of greatness. By cross‐referral of Camus' essays with his plays and novels, the heroes are discussed in an attempt to illustrate how they, like their Grecian counterparts, desire to transcend the absurdity of their various predicaments while realizing the impossibility of their quest. Thus from unawareness to consciousness, from consciousness to revolt and from revolt to re‐integration with life's absurdities, Camus' vision of greatness is presented as consistently maintaining a sacred respect for life, and for the absurd ways of living which preserve it.