The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt (original 1951; edition 1992)

The Rebel by Albert Camus is not only a work which addresses The Rebel as universal idea but also details historical "rebels" which in some cases, the reigning version of history has forgotten. Individuals like Ivan Kalyayev, who Camus brings up in his essay, and later uses as a character in his play The Just Assassins, I had never heard of. While I was taking world history and even a Russian history class in high school, the important parts of Russian history were generally thought of as the reign of the Tsars clashing with the advent of the Soviet Union, with Lenin being portrayed as "idealistic" and "outdated" and Stalin being portrayed a murderer. What mainstream history always focuses on is The Revolution, whether it be the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution(s), or the Chinese Cultural Revolution, as much of a sham as the latter was. Mainstream history, especially in middle and high school never focuses on the idea of The Rebel, the section of mankind who says "We rebel therefore we exist," and adds "And we are alone." Perhaps this seems nihilistic to the timid reader, but what Camus is essentially fighting in this essay is nihilism itself. It is only through a stark encounter with the death of the human spirit (whether it be through totalitarian, capitalist, or bureaucratic means) that mankind realizes that he must fight to retain that very spirit even in the face of his own physical death. Though adults often have trouble reading what is arguably Camus' most difficult work, I, personally, would love to distribute sections of this rather lengthy essay to high school Seniors in an AP English class in order to inspire them to "live through their work," not necessarily to preserve their legacy after death but to prove to themselves that they are currently using the full potential of their human spirit. The Rebel as an inspirational tool could be used in exercises such as writing short plays, poems, and essays, as well as drafts for novellas. I believe that the narcissism of today's youth can be utilized as an energy source for creativity; to transfer the ego of petty crime to the ego of art crime is a constructive way of saving kids and building the libraries of the future. ( )

"Negativa in apparenza, poichè nulla crea la rivolta è profondamente positiva poichè rivela quanto, nell'uomo, è sempre da difendere" ( pag. 23-4 )
Come ha potuto un socialismo, che si diceva scientifico, cozzare in tal modo contro i fatti? La risposta è semplice: non era scientifico ( pag 241 ) ( )

"Negativa in apparenza, poichè nulla crea la rivolta è profondamente positiva poichè rivela quanto, nell'uomo, è sempre da difendere" ( pag. 23-4 )
Come ha potuto un socialismo, che si diceva scientifico, cozzare in tal modo contro i fatti? La risposta è semplice: non era scientifico ( pag 241 ) ( )

Negativa in apparenza, poichè nulla crea la rivolta è profondamente positiva poichè rivela quanto, nell'uomo, è sempre da difendere ( pag. 23-4 ) Come ha potuto un socialismo, che si diceva scientifico, cozzare in tal modo contro i fatti? La risposta è semplice: non era scientifico ( pag 241 ) ( )

Negativa in apparenza, poichè nulla crea la rivolta è profondamente positiva poichè rivela quanto, nell'uomo, è sempre da difendere ( pag. 23-4 ) Come ha potuto un socialismo, che si diceva scientifico, cozzare in tal modo contro i fatti? La risposta è semplice: non era scientifico ( pag 241 ) ( )