Author's Note for this section: Clamence refers to the main character of The Fall, Jean-Baptiste Clamence.
It is very easy to follow Clamence’s philosophy, which is part of what makes The Fall such a chilling novel. If you place immense value on the natural world, it’s easy to despise humanity for its inability to handle global warming, as well as how humans continue to destroy the natural world for little more than personal profit. If you place value on other humans, then you are most likely horrified by the amount of damage humanity has continued to do to itself through genocides, slavery, and exploitation. In short, humans cause an awful lot of damage wherever they go.
Clamence would agree. One example of this style of thinking is when Clamence brings up the idea of a spitting cell as an example of the ruthless judgement of humanity and the punishment they will inflict on others for no other reason than their own satisfaction. “…only his face is visible, and every passing jailer spits copiously on it. The prisoner, wedged into his cell, cannot wipe his face, though he is allowed, it is true, to close his eyes. Well, that, mon cher, is a human invention. They didn’t need God for that little masterpiece” (Camus 110-111). And while he might make the argument that all we can do is recognize that, his apathy is what will prevent things from ever getting better. If everyone tried to be Clamence, nothing would ever improve. The way Clamence finds his own virtue is through forgiving everyone, something that doesn’t require any action on his part. Clamence is virtuous through his words and beliefs, not through any action. However, as Aristotle states, I believe that virtue must contain action. Yes, humans cause a lot of harm, and it’s important to be aware of our own failings, but that is far from enough.
Self-awareness, and awareness in general is overall, a good. It’s important to recognize shortcomings and failures, on personal, political, ecological scales. But it is important that recognition isn’t the last step of this process. Clamence stops where he should be beginning. If Clamence tried to better himself, reconsidering his beliefs and finding a way to love humanity (and therefore himself) through his failures then he would be happier, but also contribute more to his fellow man as well. Instead of simply letting everyone know how much they have failed, he should showcase his actions and aid his fellow humans because he believes it’s the right thing to do, not because he wants to be better than everyone else. His “why” is important, not only to himself, but to others as well.
Beginning and ending at self-awareness is self-punishment, which is ultimately a large part of Clamence’s whole philosophy. It is a great judgement of oneself and others. “God is not needed to create guilt or to punish. Our fellow men suffice, aided by ourselves… Allow me to laugh respectfully… for I have known what is worse, the judgment of men. For them, no extenuating circumstances; even the good intention is ascribed to crime” (Camus 110). Clamence argues that because humans don’t bother with considering the intentions of a crime. A god would consider why a human did what they did, as they would know the context for a sin, however humans don’t bother with intention. Clamence argues that humans only judge based on the action, not the person. However, judgement without reconciliation or growth is useless, very often allowing little more than personal catharsis.