McKenna Worsham  

Comp II 

Professor Hammett  

Essay 2 Rhetorical Analysis 

1,119 words 

4/2/23 

Camus and his thoughts on suicide 

Albert Camus, a Nobel Prize in Literature winner, best known for his works of absurdist fiction, in his novel The Plague (1948), suggests that the epidemic of male suicide is a form of surrender (The Plague, Camus 9). Camus supports this argument that suicide is more absurd than life itself through the utilization of carefully thought-out rhetorical questions, examples of this tragedy, and opinion-based philosophical ideas. He writes to overcome the belief that suicide is normal, though it is absurd in its nature, to reject societal beliefs. Camus writes for an audience of mature young adults, anywhere from the age of eighteen, with an extremely nihilistic and philosophical writing style to prove his thoughts on suicide. Camus believes that suicide is simply submission to death; however, he finds no meaning in life and finds suicide to be the utmost of absurdity, almost comical, which is clear in his writings (10). 

Throughout his works of writing, Camus has a consistent theme of contemplating life and death. Camus feels little to no sympathy for those who choose to commit suicide. Many of his writings contain his thoughts on suicide, although in The Myth of Sisyphus, specifically, it is evident that Camus believes suicide is the longed-for answer to the absurdity that is life (The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus 6). Camus makes it clear his feelings on the subject are philosophical (6). He uses rhetorical devices by appealing to the logical and philosophical side of his readers, rather than appealing to their emotions. In the very first line of his essay, The Myth of Sisyphus, Camus states, "There is but one truly serious philosophical problem and that is suicide," (4). Instead of taking advantage of his readers' emotional responses to suicide, Camus utilizes his philosophical background to influence his audience to think of suicide, or any death for that matter, as an ending to absurdity (19). Rhetorically, Camus takes a very philosophic approach when discussing or illustrating topics such as suicide within his work.  

Camus typically includes themes of death and disturbance in his work; these undertones of destruction and ridiculousness within his pieces are what make him so well-known as an absurdist author. Camus utilizes this absurdism to focus on his ideals, as many other authors do, to influence the stature of authority within the genre. In a journal of philosophy, Camus' work regarding the issue of suicide is compared to that of Søren Kierkegaard, whose work is opposite to Camus'. Camus protests in his writings that suicide is an effect of the human condition, and he is continuously believed and praised by readers because of his reputation (Berthold 3). In this comparison of authors, it is evident that Camus is respected because of his credentials in the writing community, whereas at the time Kierkegaard was not (6). In this journal Camus' beliefs on suicide are challenged; "...while Camus rejects faith as "suicide," an abandonment of lucidity, a retreat from the only thing that is given us as certain, the absurd itself" (5). However, Camus, almost immovable in his beliefs, has multitudes of people who enjoy his work because of his reputation and unphased sense of knowledge.  

In a short journal, Camus' philosophy on suicide and nihilism is explored heavily; it is simple logic to see that the two coexist. Camus uses his background in the philosophical text to further push the narrative of nihilistic suicide (Woodward 1). The author shares Camus' belief that "...the issues of suicide and murder; he explores the way that philosophical nihilism can potentially justify each..." (2). Camus saw suicide as raising a white flag, simply giving up. Although, he did tend to justify the death of all sorts with philosophical roots in nihilism (8). Another example of this tie, Camus believed in, between philosophy and suicide is, "As is well known, for Camus, the absurdity of life is not simply the meaninglessness of life, but a tension between two terms: objective meaninglessness and the human desire for meaning" (8). This human struggle that most face, to find meaning in life, is supported in Camus' writings, though he finds no true meaning to life other than the simple absurdity of it. Logistically, Camus expresses an annoyance with suicide, not an acceptance, but rather an ignorance of it being tragic and seeing suicide simply as absurd (9). He finds absurdity and humor in the tragedies of the human condition, which is evident in his work.  

Some conclusive evidence of Camus' thoughts of suicide is briefly pointed out in his novel, The Plague. Throughout his writing, Camus elicits small discrepancies of suicide, but it is never fully addressed in The Plague. One of the characters attempts suicide; however, it is never discussed openly in the book, more than once (The Plague, Camus 16). It was seen as a failure, rather than a tragic struggle, because the character, Cottard, lived through his attempt (15). The situation was taken on with humor, rather than concern; "The inspector then asked him peremptorily if he intended to "have another go at it." Showing more animation, Cottard said certainly not, his one wish was to be left in peace" (17). This is Camus' way of exerting his beliefs of suicide, by making Cottard seem small and his struggles humorous, he relays the assumption that suicide is ridiculous and the most absurd idea of all. This is a simple and concise way to ensure the audience feels little sympathy for the man, whose character was constantly in question, throughout the novel (16). Whilst there is some level of emotion connected to Cottard's suicide attempt, it is mostly a correlation to make the other tragedies in the book seem more important and his attempt seem, as Camus views suicide, absurd and disconnected from the storyline. 

These appeals to logic and emotion throughout Camus' works of writing directly correlate to his beliefs about suicide and the meaning of life. Camus, while he might believe that suicide is the most absurd choice a human can make, he does not shy away from it in his work. He utilizes his reputation and credibility as an author in the absurdist genre, as well as logical and emotional responses to tragedy, to reinforce the idea that suicide is of utmost absurdity. Camus intended for suicide and death within his work to be absurd, comical even, and he has achieved that. His work is abundantly flowing with absurdist views on every emotion or situation within the human condition. Camus does an incredible job of expressing his feelings about topics such as suicide. Camus' writings make it clear that he views suicide as a surrender of the most absurd; this supports his idea that human life has no meaning, but that death by suicide takes away any search for meaning.  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

Works Cited 

Camus, Albert, and Laura Marris. The Plague. Vintage Books, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. 

Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus, and Other Essays. Translated by Justin O'Brien, First Vintage international ed., Vintage Books, 1991. 

Woodward, Ashley. “Camus and Nihilism.” Sophia: International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, Metaphysical Theology and Ethics, vol. 50, no. 4, 2011, pp. 543–559., https://doi.org/10.1007/s11841-011-0274-0. 

Berthold, Daniel. “Kierkegaard and Camus: Either/or?” International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, vol. 73, no. 2, 2013, pp. 137–150.