Camus and Sartre

Success and fame creates its own tensions.

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Camus was at pains to avoid being seen as Sartre’s satellite. But as the two were becoming the talk of Paris and of France, this perception grew, and Camus felt he had to define himself in contrast to Sartre. And this need for self-definition became even more urgent because Sartre was taking Camus as a model and making his friend’s way of being into his own theory.

-- Ronald Aronson, “Camus and Sartre”

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This need for self-differentiation would soon become a full-blown schizm, as close friendship becomes embittered rivalry.

Monday Afternoon

I was deep into my afternoon nap, when Ash decided that it was a good time to jump on the bed and start crying to be let outside. She could not have done this fifteen minutes ago, when I was up and about putting away my lunch dishes and brushing my teeth, nor could she wait another ten minutes, when I would be stirring myself awake. It is as though cats believe that the best time to communicate with you is when you are dead asleep. I guess it must look like we are not busy doing anything and so they may as well make us useful. Very unlike dogs. Dogs respect your sleep, like it’s something sacred. Even in the early morning, when Bo must have been anxious to go outside and relieve himself, he would only sit by my side and watch me intensely, as if praying for me to open my eyes.