Honors College Theses
Publication Date
4-18-2022
Major
Modern Languages (B.A.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Martha Hughes
Abstract
The Fall by Albert Camus, published in 1956, is cryptic and easily misunderstood. On first reading, it can appear to be a condemnation of modern man, a declaration that all have sinned and there is no divine absolution. However, this bleak misreading is deceptive because The Fall is not a condemnation; it is a warning. It does not condemn modern man as he is, but rather as what he could become if he succumbs to living in bad faith, a cautionary tale that resonates today. Camus presents the same message through his philosophy of revolt in The Plague and The Rebel. Additional insights into the nature of sin, judgment, and existentialism can be gleaned from various 19th and 20th century works of philosophy, literature, and psychology, all of which had a clear impact on Camus. This thesis is a critical and comparative analysis of The Fall and its relevance to modern society.
Thesis Summary
The Fall by Albert Camus is easily misunderstood. It can appear to be a declaration that all humans have sinned and there is no divine absolution. Its true message and relevance to modern society can be gleaned from a critical and comparative analysis of it and various philosophical works.
Recommended Citation
Hodges, Will, "Sin without Absolution: A Critical and Comparative Analysis of Select Works by Albert Camus" (2022). Honors College Theses. 741.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/honors-theses/741
Included in
Applied Ethics Commons, Comparative Literature Commons, Continental Philosophy Commons, French and Francophone Literature Commons
