Journal #1- 1984

Motifs: There are quite a few motifs in the book, but one that reoccurred constantly is the motif "victory." The party uses victory in describing most of its items from gin, to cigarettes to houses etc. They try to allude to the people of that society that what the people are given is victory and it is something that everyone should appreciate, but in fact, it is the least thing that we as readers would expect to have. The cigarettes are all crumbled up, the gin tastes horrible, yet it is recognized as being a "victory" item. This way the party can gain the control of all the people and show them that the party is giving them victorious items the same way they win wars victoriously. The people of that society thing that they are given the best of the best since it is labeled victory, but truly, the Party is giving them nothing. It is using those items just to allude to the people that they are having the best.. like the gilded age when a country alludes to be great from the outside, but when it is seen from the inside, it is in its worst conditions.In the beginning of the book for example, Winston "took down from the shelf a bottle of colorless liquid with a plain white label marked victory gin. It gave off a sickly, oily smell, as of Chinese rice-spirit. Winston poured out nearly a teacupful, nerved himself for a shock, and gulped it down like a does of medicine" (8). This clearly depicts what the Party is trying to do with the people. It is portraying to them items as victory items but they are definitely not. After Winston drinks the gin, his face turns red because it tastes like "nitric acid" but he had to hide it from the telescreen in case it sees him because they should show that they respect everything given to them by the Party and should feel proud of having that, because if they don't, they would get punished.
Setting: The setting of the book plays a big role in contributing to the understanding of that society. The setting is in Airstrip One, aka London, England, which is part of the larger continent of Oceania. In Airstrip One, the houses are small and old, the roads are dirty and empty, there is no privacy because everyone is constantly watched by the telescreens. Even the people's living conditions are bad. This setting contributes to the understanding of the society in the book as a place of control, where the government, in this case the Party, has everything and the people have nothing. It shows how strong the Party is controlling everyone from living conditions to actions. "Outside, even through the shut window pane, the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies of wind were whirling dust and torn paper intro spirals" (6). The world outside is empty and cold, with nothing but dust and pieces of paper everywhere. This shows the emptiness and fear of the people living in that society because every step they take is watched. Since the setting is in Europe, it reveals the idea of a totalitarian government which was happening in Europe at that time. The setting also brings the dull and fearful feelings of the people living in that society and shows how miserable they are, but cannot do anything about it.
Language: The language in 1984 is very formal and descriptive. The formality of he book shows the effect of the control of the Party and how everything should go by order. It shows the strength and control taken over the citizens and the idea that order and formality is an importance to being part of the society. The descriptiveness of the book also shows the detail in setting, but also represents the society and every detail taken by the people is seen and is counted as important because the Party has to know every little detail from the people to remain in control. For example, "Parsons was Winston's fellow employee at the Ministry of Truth. He was a fattish but active man of paralyzing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasms- one of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Party depended" (22). In this quote, Parsons is described very thoroughly which shows the  reader the extent as to how the Party should know every little detail of a person. The language is also very formal which also shows the order and control of the Party.

Journal #5- The Stranger

The name of my philosophy is: Individuality through fundamentals

1) Know that what you do today, affects the future: Your present is an important part that creates your path to the future. This principle developed from seeing everyone around me that either has had a successful life or their life did not turn out as well. People should be careful because one mistake could lead to a disastrous future. For example, if someone gets addicted to a drug, that could lead them to a horrible future. Whereas if someone remained bright and stayed away from the downsides in life, they will have a bright and good future ahead of them.
2) There is a God and everyone must believe in Him: There is a God that everyone must believe in. I came to this principle from my religion. God is the one that created the world and there is an after life. Every religion knows that there is a higher power out there, however way they see that power exists. I know that God created the world as a test that would lead us to the path we will end up in, in our after life. There should be a strong relationship and belief in God because although we don't see Him, he is a big impact on us and has been for as long as man existed.
3) An individual shapes their own life through their actions: I came to this principle through watching others around me as well as the media. What a person does is what shapes them and creates their own identity. Whether it is through the love of music, or literature, or business, or science, the way a person perceives things is what makes them individuals. Everyone one has their own likes and dislikes and that's what makes them their own person. The way they react to their surroundings also identifies because for example, a person can either react violently towards an insult, or just walk away and ignore it and act that they didn't even hear that insult.
4) Achieve the goals that you set for yourself before it is too late: Everyone has a goal in life that they plan on achieving, yet many don't even get close to it, or even if they are close to it, something happens that may have affected them. Those goals are what help a person move on. It is what makes them look at something ahead of them and know that they have something to do that could lead them to something better. Without goals, there would be no reason to live life in a specific way because there is nothing a person is looking at that they would want to have. I came to this principle from the experiences throughout my whole life so far.
5) Negotiate things whether with another individual or society as a whole: Negotiation is a key to success because it could lead to a compromise. But when negotiating, be reasonable and have a clear thought. Whether you negotiate with an individual and come to an agreement that would suit both of you, such as a negotiation with a roommate. Or if it is a negotiation with society as a whole where you can come to a compromise that could benefit not only you, but the people in the society as well. This principle developed through past events that happened in the world as well as events that happened to people I know.
6) Individuals create their own morality: Everyone creates their own right and wrong. This principle developed through my background and beliefs. What one may see as right, many other may see as wrong, and many as well may see it as right. How we come up with our own morality is through the events we have been through, the actions we take, and our beliefs. For example, drinking alcohol may be seen as right for some people if it is taken in minimum amounts, whereas others may see alcohol as completely wrong. Some even forbid the drinking of alcohol due to their beliefs.
7) Everyone views the world differently: What you see as one thing, someone else might see as another. Everyone has a different way of thinking. Someone can view one thing positively, and someone else can view the same thing negatively. Someone can agree with something, and someone else can disagree with it. There are always different views on things and this is what makes the world so diverse. This is one separates a child from and adult, one idea from another and so on. This principle developed by just going though everything and seeing my surroundings as well as others.
8) There is always jealousy even from the closest person to you: Jealousy is something that is embedded in us whether we accept it or not. We always want to be better then the others around us, yet when we see someone become better then us, we can't help ourselves but be jealous. Although it does not show from the outside, it exists within us and is always present in our thoughts. This principle came to me through personal experiences and just through viewing the world as it is.
9) Always help the ones in need because you will be rewarded: There is always someone that is need whether through food, money, clothes, or a house. Giving is a key to happiness. When a person gives something and knows it can help someone else, it is always the happiest feeling in the world. Although we might not see the person who that help might go to, that person being helped will be so thankful for those that helped him or her. We will also be rewarded by God, because He always wants us to be generous and help others in need and he can always help us be successful and give us more if we help others through our willingness not by knowing that we are required to. It should come from the heart. This principle developed through my beliefs and culture.
10) Express your thoughts because they are worthwhile and there is always someone that will agree with you: Your thoughts are very important to express your individuality. There will be someone that disagrees with you, but there is also someone that will agree with you. Expressing your thoughts should be in a way that you know can be helpful and beneficial to you and possibly others. This principle developed through personal experiences.

Journal #4- The Stranger

In the end of the novel, Mersault comes to the conclusion that the world is indifferent and has no reason behind it. He understands that death is inevitable whether it is today or fifty years from now. He lost hope in fighting for himself, knowing that he will die soon; but he has not lost hope about his thoughts and past life. He held on tight to his thoughts and knew that what he did through out his life is what happened and whether he did it one way or another, it makes no difference. He realized the absurd life he lived in and that everyone's life is chosen by the same fate because everyone will eventually die. He just gave up on the world and saw that it has no meaning to it. Camus shows the end Mersualt comes to, but does not want the reader to come to the same conclusion in life. He wants us to take advantage of what we have and follow through, because giving up could lead us to what Mersault ended up with. He wants each one to be his or her own person because that is what matters in the end and that is how Mersault turns out.

Journal #3- The Stranger

Camus divided his novel into two pars to show Mersault's development as a character. In the first half of he novel, Mersault is just stating the facts and the obvious around him. He just gives out his thoughts without any consideration of the consequences. He is very simple and is easily understandable through the syntax. The sentences are short and so it makes him seem as a character that is up to the point with no twists and turns.
For example, in chapter 1, Mersault says, "I was tired. The caretaker took me to his room and I was able to clean up a little. I had some more coffee and milk, which was very good. When I went outside, the sun was up" (Camus, 12). This shows Mersault's simplicity and the idea of him as a character that just states the fact.
Now in the second half of the book, Mersault develops as a character and begins to understand and change his way of thinking a little. After killing a person, which was probably a big impact on him but he didn't realize it yet, he feels like everything changed. The was he begins to interpret things around him changed, because he starts to understand things and not only state the fact. For example, he says, "I realized then that a man who had lived only one day could easily live for a hundred years in prison. He would have enough memories to keep him from being bored" (Camus, 79). Mersault begins to understand things more deeply instead of just stating the facts and having nothing to look forward to in life.

Journal #2- The Stranger

2) I think Camus uses first person point of view to make us imagine what the protagonist is going through. When it is a first person point of view, we can see things directly through that person and understand their exact thoughts, actions and what they feel about their surroundings. It helps us imagine that the protagonist is telling us the story directly, not through another person. Camus didn't choose third person omniscient because he does not want to describe things in detail and the thoughts of Mersault through his point of view. He wants to show Mersault as himself and as an independent character and his own ideas to support the idea of existentialism. If he were to say he said"..." and then he would describe the characters thoughts in his point of view, it wouldn't show the nature of Mersault through the way he acts and talks. The use of first person relate to Camus' theme of amorality of people because it supports the idea of being amoral through Mersault.

Journal #1- The Stranger

The policeman: The policeman was described indirectly through his actions. He is seen as someone with a lot of authority that is respected by the people. What he says is what should be done. He seem's to be like a tough guy that no one should disobey. The policeman plays the role of authority that everyone must respect. He is seen as someone with a higher power that no one dares to disobey. With the policeman, Camus is trying to reveal the there is always a stronger power of authority that will enforce its rules on. Raymond, a reckless character that seems to always get in fights, respects the policeman and is not not seen as someone of that high of  power in front of him. 

Mersault's boss: Mersault boss came out to be like someone that always looks forward for a better life. He has high ambitions and always looks for success in his life. He feels that Mersault is young and has great ambitions in life, but when Mersault puts him down, he gets disappointed. Through his boss, Camus reveals Mersault's partial past. The boss is also used to express Mersault's thoughts that reveals what kind of a character Mersault is. 

The strange little woman: The way this woman is described shows her as someone that has a basic routine in life and gets excited when she see's something new. This is similar to Mersault because he also has a basic routine that he seems to follow everyday. This lady plays a role of exposing Mersault as someone that looks at others differently, yet doesn't seem to notice his own self as similar to those around him. Through her, Camus tries to reveal that people have daily routines and everyone looks at others differently and we realize peculiar things about others, yet we tend to forget that who we are looking at are similar to us. It also shows that once we start to know about something and focus on it, we end up forgetting it after some time.