Summer in Algiers by Albert Camus - Essay Example

Summer in Algiers by Albert Camus deals with the importance of knowledge that is rooted in direct experience: pleasure, pain, misery and death, whichare part of life, looked at in the face, and not evaded. What makes this an interesting read is the lyrical and imagistic quality of the essay. It demonstrates the simple awareness in the people of Algiers of what life is and what it means to them, without any attempt at creating ideas and ideals to shield themselves from its stark reality, whether pleasant or unpleasant. “Here at least man is gratified in every wish and, sure of his desires, can at last measure his possessions.” Here, Camus talks about the uncomplicated life of the people of Algiers, who do not have philosophical, traditional or cultural hang ups and can enjoy unfettered their lives. These mostly consist of summers in youth and the miseries of old age and death, the former vigorously embraced and the latter with the equanimity of meeting the inevitable. “In Algiers one loves the commonplaces: the sea at the end of every street, a certain volume of sunlight, the beauty of the race”. If one cannot love one’s immediate environment for what it is, it is difficult to maintain n alert connection about what life is all about, and all too easy to fall into abstraction and smothering complexities that our civilization brings. In our modern times, especially with technology at our heels wherever we go, it is difficult to stay in touch with the essential realities of life, as Camus recommends. This short, imagistic essay is for me a call to wake up, look at life for what it really is, and be constantly aware of the fact that no theory or technology will help us change the bare framework of birth, youth, love sex, old age, and death. The second essay in consideration is “Of Age” by Michel de Montaigne, which talks about an earlier age of employment to be implemented as the norm. In the age when the essay was written, few people made it past the age of five decades, and most great accomplishments were seemingly achievable by the age of twenty. What makes the essay interesting is the picture it provides of the life and times when it was written It talks naturally of monarchy and of the age of fifty as a ripe old age, which are such anachronisms to most of us in our time. “What an idle conceit is it to expect to die of a decay of strength, which is the effect of extremest age, and to propose to ourselves no shorter lease of life than that, considering it is a kind of death of all others the most rare and very seldom seen?” In an age of hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes, it does us good to be reminded of our vulnerability. Supported by improved standards of living and medical care, we believe that nothing can get in the way of us living to a ripe old age, and we consequently take it easy. “Natural” deaths may not be uncommon today, but that does not mean we are totally invincible, and can be complacent with our lives and what we mean to achieve in it. “For my part, I believe our souls are adult at twenty as much as they are ever like to be, and as capable then as ever. A soul that has not by that time given evident earnest of its force and virtue will never after come to proof”.The belief in youth and its capabilities is striking, and is reaffirmed in the lowering of the voting age in our modern times. Montaigne reaches out to me with his belief in the capabilities of youth and the benefits seen in exploiting these abilities to the fullest. He inspires me to go out there and begin in right earnest on the projects I have always wanted to do, for my personal development and for the good of the community in general, because who knows what tomorrow may bring, for we are, after all, mortal. The next is “The "Dumbing down" of Wine” by Tom Cannavan, which deals with the fact that rapid commercialism is leading to the death of individualistic qualities in wines and they are falling prey to the law of averages. The essay first treats the subject as if the author agreed with the reduction of wines to average availability and prices, as it promotes the common good for the man-on-the-street. It then systematically brings this belief apart by demonstrating exactly how we are losing fine, unique wines through the relentless competition of the supermarkets, which emphasize price and quantity over individual qualities. “But with wine, there is such a spread of price and quality that the clamour by the supermarkets to make this art-form into just another piece of merchandise, results in a swamping of the shelves with low end, look-alike wines, to the exclusion of the many fine wines that can be found just a price point or two higher.” and “These places are often our only source of truly unique wines, but, unable to compete on price, and perhaps unwilling to compromise on what they sell, will they go the way of our high street butchers, bakers, florists and fishmongers?” This is truly saddening, because the decline of any art is to be regretted, especially when it is not very difficult to keep it alive, given a bit of discretion and powers for appreciation. Wine is to be understood in its profundity and infinite variety, and not reduced to uniform, boring tastes and aromas, to be popular with all and sundry. What wine you like is also a bit of an expression of who you are, and it might be worth the effort to experiment with various types and pricelines to find the favorite, which is unique to your preferences. The next time I come across a wine, I will know that this is not just another beverage, but possibly a work of art to assimilate and appreciate. The last but not the least, “The Wedding” by Charles Lamb is a moving portrait of an English household in the life and times of Lamb, during and after the marriage of the daughter of the family. This is an essay that is almost a short story in the way it depicts the emotions of the characters depicted through vivid imagery. It gives an insight into the ways of that period and a brief glimpse of Lamb himself, who feels mightily for the plight of his friend. Of special interest is how a romance born at the age of fourteen for the girl results in marriage at nineteen, and everyone other than the girl’s father thinks it is too late! “To this instinct may be imputed, and by it alone may be excused, the unbeseeming artifices, by which some wives push on the matrimonial projects of their daughters, which the husband, however approving, shall entertain with comparative indifference. A little shamelessness on this head is pardonable. With this explanation, forwardness becomes a grace, and maternal importunity receives the name of a virtue”. This is a stark detail keenly observed by Lamb. The language may be very pedantic, but it is not able to dull the sharpness behind his commentary. “Yet somehow the old house is not quite what it should be. The Admiral still enjoys his pipe, but he has no Miss Emily to fill it for him. The instrument stands where it stood, but she is gone, whose delicate touch could sometimes for a short minute appease the warring elements”. This is a poignant depiction of the father’s desolation after the daughter’s marriage. Though from a different time, this essay serves to underline the depth of filial attachments. Today, when there is much emphasis on the youth striking out on its own as soon as possible, this essay will serve to remind me of the importance of family affections, and how we are irreplaceable to our parents. Read More