Clamence emphasizes the duality of his nature throughout the whole story: on the surface he is a noble lawyer who seeks to help everyone, deep down he is an ordinary self-lover who takes seriously only himself in life. He easily converges with women, playing this or that role, and when he tries to approach them with the truth, he becomes of no interest to anyone. The main character of “The Fall” is also not averse to surrendering to sensual pleasures, but true love is unfamiliar to him.

Through the mouth of Jean-Baptiste, the author shows the essence of modern Europeans who are interested only in newspapers and fornication.

And when he is disappointed with others and himself, he does not give up his sins, but with pleasure repents and begins to play a new role – the highest Judge. Clamence’s whole life was aimed at finding those who would adore him. On the contrary, he calls his main feature contempt for people and love for himself. Only in contrast to the biblical character is the hero Camus far from true faith and love. Translated from French, it means – John the Baptist. The main character meets his compatriot in the bar Mexico City in Amsterdam and tells him the story of his life for five days. The storyline “The Fall” is made in the form of a stream of consciousness, invented by the impressionists. In this work, the French existentialist tried to answer the eternal question: “What is the meaning of human existence”? To answer, he chose the form of a monologue, coming from the lips of former Parisian lawyer Jean-Baptiste Clamence and the current “judge on repentance.” Confession of the hero is a kind of analysis of the state of the contemporary author of society. Published in 1956, “The Fall” by Albert Camus belongs to the genre of philosophical novels.

The Fall by Albert Camus