3 ms·

I don't think Clamence is terrible, but I think his narrative ties into Sartre's concept of living in "bad faith." He was putting a lot of effort into an artifi

by pram 3y ago

I don't think Clamence is terrible, but I think his narrative ties into Sartre's concept of living in "bad faith." He was putting a lot of effort into an artificial persona: a very morally and ethically upstanding member of high society. This didn't really reflect who he was on the inside, the events he experienced created the neuroticism that chipped away at the facade. He's kinda like a less psychotic Patrick Bateman.

steve_adams_86 3y ago
Yes, I think you nailed it. There are much worse people in the world than Clamence to be sure. By terrible I mean both his manner and his experience, too. He’s a miserable person, and how relatable he is makes him seem more tangibly undesirable than someone grotesque and unfamiliar like Bateman. That interpretation will vary wildly across individuals of course. Perhaps Clamence wouldn’t be remotely relatable to some people.